The administration announced a $12 billion bailout plan for farmers hurt by “unjustified retaliatory tariffs” in President Trump’s trade wars, while some GOP lawmakers and farmers recoiled at the government aid and urged the president to seek a negotiated peace with U.S. trading partners, The Washington Times reported. The plan will pay direct assistance to Midwest soybean producers and others targeted by retaliatory tariffs, including hog farmers and corn growers. The government’s purchases of excess crops would not require congressional approval and would come through the Commodity Credit Corporation, a wing of the Agriculture Department. “This is a short-term solution that will give President Trump and his administration the time to work on long-term trade deals,” said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. “We’re making tremendous progress. And the farmers will be the biggest beneficiary," President Trump said. "Watch. Just be a little patient. These countries have been ripping us off for decades. It doesn’t take a week, it takes a little longer. Stick with us.” The president is scheduled to host EU President Jean-Claude Juncker at the White House on Wednesday, with a discussion on trade high on the agenda. President Trump has imposed tariffs on imported EU steel and aluminum, and has threatened new levies on cars. “This trade war is cutting the legs out from under farmers, and White House’s ‘plan’ is to spend $12 billion on gold crutches,” said Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.). “America’s farmers don’t want to be paid to lose — they want to win by feeding the world. This administration’s tariffs and bailouts aren’t going to make America great again, they’re just going to make it 1929 again.”
