President Trump on Monday told U.S. farmers hard hit by the
trade war with China that they would come out on the winning end of new trade
deals. Speaking at the 100th annual convention of the American Farm Bureau
Foundation, Trump promised a “tremendous impact” from the deals.
“We’re doing trade deals that are going to get you so much
business, you won’t believe it. A lot of great things are going to happen,” Mr.
Trump told a huge crowd at the New Orleans Convention Center.
Farm and rural voters were key to Mr. Trump’s 2016 election
victory, but their allegiance has been tested by trade disputes, reports the
Washington Times. In retaliation against Trump administration tariffs, Beijing
targeted U.S. agriculture, in particular its massive soybean exports, to punish
Mr. Trump’s base.
The administration is providing up to $12 billion in
assistance for farmers hurt in the China trade war, both as relief for lost
crops or sales and for help finding alternative markets.
While Trump commented on trade and agriculture issues, the
speech was dominated by his take on the partial government shutdown over border
security.
“When it comes to keeping the American people safe, I will
never back down. I didn’t want this fight,” he told the farmers, who also have
been hit by the suspension of some FDA inspections.
The President promised a business boost for farmers in the
near future from a China deal still being negotiated and the new U.S. Mexico
Canada Agreement that is awaiting approval from Congress, the Times reported.
Trump began imposing tariffs to force China into trade
talks. He wants Beijing to end unfair trade practices, including dropping
barriers to U.S. companies doing business in China and its theft of American
intellectual property.
Mr. Trump also wants to reduce America’s huge annual trade
deficit with China. China’s 2018 trade surplus with the U.S. surged to a record
$323.3 billion, but its exports shrank in December as U.S. tariffs began to
hurt demand.