Cramer: Administration Announcement on Farm Trade Retaliation Mitigation

Press Release

Congressman Kevin Cramer responded to the Trump Administration providing up to $12 billion in aid to farmers affected by any retaliation on agriculture products during the trade negotiations with China and other countries. Today's announcement provided more detail on how the $12 billion in support will be delivered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Cramer was one of the first Members of Congress to suggest utilizing the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to help mitigate the disproportionate retaliation against our nation's farmers and ranchers. Read the full statement here.

"Since the beginning the Administration has said it has our producers' backs," said Cramer. "I am thankful our farmers and ranchers are now getting some specifics at my suggestion, but sad China continues to act in bad faith and thereby necessitates these extraordinary measures. At the end of the day we want trade not aid. I hope free fair and reciprocal trade is in our near future and look forward to more details as they roll out."

The USDA reported it will use the following programs to assist farmers:

The Market Facilitation Program, authorized under CCC Charter Act and administered by Farm Service Agency, will provide payments incrementally to producers of soybeans, sorghum, corn, wheat, cotton, dairy, and hogs to help farmers manage disrupted markets, deal with surplus commodities, and expand and develop new markets at home and abroad.
CCC Charter Act and other authorities to implement a Food Purchase and Distribution Program through the Agricultural Marketing Service to purchase unexpected surplus of affected commodities such as fruits, nuts, rice, legumes, beef, pork and milk for distribution to food banks and other nutrition programs.
The CCC will use its Charter Act authority for a Trade Promotion Program administered by the Foreign Agriculture Service in conjunction with the private sector to assist in developing new export markets for our farm products.
Since President Trump suggested implementing tariffs, Cramer has been actively working with the Administration to convey North Dakota's agriculture community needs. Today he testified before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) during a public hearing about the how retaliatory tariffs impact North Dakota's agriculture community and manufacturers. Cramer also delivered remarks at the USTR in a May hearing. He was the only Member of Congress to testify during both hearings.

Earlier this month, USTR Ambassador Robert Lighthizer and Cramer spoke about ongoing trade negotiations in which Lighthizer assured Cramer farmers will not be overlooked. He also arranged a meeting at the White House in June with a delegation of North Dakota farmers and ranchers to discuss international trade and tariff issues facing them and fellow producers with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky.

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