05.13.19

Hoeven Statement on Administration Providing $15 Billion in Agriculture Assistance During Trade Negotiations

As Chairman of Ag Approps, Hoeven Worked to Provide Authority to Use Tariff Revenues for Agriculture Aid

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released the following statement today after the President said that the Administration is planning to provide $15 billion in agriculture aid to help producers during trade negotiations. Hoeven has been making the case to the Administration, including the White House and USDA, for another round of Market Facilitation Program (MFP) payments as well as additional agriculture assistance.

“We appreciate the Administration’s recognition of the challenges in farm country and their commitment to provide agriculture assistance. As chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Committee, I’ve been making the case to the Administration, both at USDA and the White House, that our producers need another round of MFP as well as other ag assistance,” said Hoeven. “We worked to provide the authority necessary to use tariff revenue to provide agriculture aid, since our ag industry has been targeted by retaliatory tariffs. At the same time, supporting our agriculture industry will send a clear message to China that the U.S. is going to do what it takes to get better trade deals.” 

In addition to his efforts to provide agriculture assistance, Hoeven also worked to help manufacturers, securing a commitment from U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to set up a product exclusion process for the third round of tariffs, which recently went from 10 to 25 percent. The exclusion process enables manufacturers to request that a specific product be excluded from the increased duties, especially when the product is not available elsewhere or if it will cause severe economic harm.  

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