USDA's Perdue: Negotiation Best Way on China Trade Situation

Negotiations with China will be the best option for calming US-China trade tensions, but if they fail USDA stands ready with funds to help US ag producers soften the impacts a full-blown trade war would bring, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told the Senate Appropriations Ag subcommittee."China is a key market for U.S. agriculture, but China’s unfair trade policies, including for agriculture, have undermined fair trade and the global trading system. The President is taking steps to address those policies," Perdue said.Should China take retaliatory actions that harm U.S. agriculture, the Trump administration "stands ready to defend agricultural producers who may be harmed. As we take a stronger approach to the way we handle trade as a nation, President Trump has directed me to use all of my authorities to ensure that we protect and preserve our agricultural interests."Perdue also noted he reserves the ability to deploy funding made available in the recently passed government-spending bill if necessary to mitigate trade impacts.