President Trump and agriculture leaders on and off Capitol Hill are deflecting blame on the administration for the U.S.-China trade war and its severe impact on agriculture.  GOP Senate ally Chuck Grassley defended the president's tariffs against China, offset some, by billions in Market Facilitation Payments.  He said that assistance is much more than his predecessors offered.

 

"Nixon freezes the price of beef, just for a short period of time, but it ruined the beef industry in the United States, and Iowa was number one, and we've never been number one since 1972. Ford didn't do anything to help the farmers, when he put a ban on export of soybeans, because the price was getting so high. When the Russians invaded Afghanistan, Carter put a ban on exports to Russia, and didn't help the farmers."

 

The President has tweeted he’ll give farmers more trade aid next year if needed.  Grassley said Trump keeping his word is a big help to producers.

 

"They also know that China's been cheating, not only farmers, but American manufacturers, American services," Grassley continued.  "And I get a sense that farmers are sticking with the president."

 

 

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