Trump choose to guide USDA eyes funds to farmers to cowl commerce losses from tariffs

By Leah Douglas

(Reuters) -President Donald Trump’s choose to guide the U.S. Division of Agriculture mentioned on Thursday she would contemplate direct funds to farmers to offset losses from proposed tariffs, modeled after the method taken in Trump’s first time period.

If confirmed, Brooke Rollins (NYSE:ROL) would lead the $200 billion company and its almost 100,000 workers whose broad remit consists of vitamin and commodity applications, farm loans, forestry, and commerce.

Trump’s tariffs on Chinese language imports in his first time period resulted in retaliatory tariffs on soybeans. The administration then paid billions to farmers to offset losses.

Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on China in addition to Mexico and Canada.

Rollins mentioned throughout her Thursday nomination listening to earlier than the Senate Agriculture Committee that she has spoken with Sonny Perdue, Trump’s farm secretary in his first time period, about how the company managed the commerce struggle.

“We’re ready to execute one thing comparable, if accredited, if confirmed,” she mentioned, later including, “we won’t reinvent the wheel.”

Some senators on the committee challenged the method.

“What we have heard from our farmers and ranchers time and again is they need to have the ability to do the work. They need to have the ability to export. They do not need to resolve this downside by getting support,” mentioned Michael Bennet, a Democrat from Colorado.

Rollins, who led the White Home Home Coverage Council below Trump’s first time period, mentioned she would prioritize increasing entry to commerce markets and lowering the nation’s $42 billion agricultural commerce deficit.

Rollins was additionally questioned about her report on ethanol. Reuters reported on Wednesday {that a} Texas coverage group helmed by Rollins repeatedly criticized the politically necessary biofuel for elevating costs and receiving undue authorities assist.

Rollins mentioned the group put out a whole bunch of papers and feedback yearly and that she didn’t writer any that had been essential of ethanol. She mentioned she would assist all vitality sources.

Requested whether or not the USDA would defend immigrant farmworkers from Trump’s mass deportation effort, Rollins mentioned she would take heed to the labor wants of farm companies however that she had not been concerned in conversations concerning the deportation plan and couldn’t reply whether or not farms could be focused.

Rollins additionally mentioned that the nation’s H2A visa program for seasonal farm labor wanted to be reformed, however didn’t present particulars.

Farmworkers, about half of whom are undocumented, have been involved about potential raids and farm business teams have urged the administration to not perform raids at farm and meals companies.