05.10.19

Hoeven Working to Secure Additional Assistance for Farmers During Trade Negotiations

Including Another Round of Market Facilitation Payments (MFP) and Other Ag Assistance

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today outlined his efforts to secure additional assistance for agriculture producers impacted by trade negotiations.  

“With the Chinese continuing to delay negotiations, farm country needs assistance which is the case I’ve been making to the Administration, both at USDA and the White House. I am encouraged that the President has said we should make more assistance available to our farmers during trade negotiations. I continue to advocate for another round of Market Facilitation Program payments, and other agriculture assistance,” said Hoeven. “Our agriculture producers have been targeted by the Chinese, which is why it makes sense to put the tariff money that comes in toward providing aid, including another round of MFP and other trade assistance, for producers. That will send a clear message to China that the U.S. will do what it takes to prevail and get a better trade deal.” 

As chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven worked to provide USDA with the authority necessary to utilize tariffs to fund trade assistance. The senator has been making the case to the Administration to provide additional aid to help producers challenged by trade uncertainty, as they have been targeted by China. 

Additionally, to help manufacturers, the senator secured a commitment from U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to set up a product exclusion process for the third round of tariffs, which just went from 10 to 25 percent. This will enable manufacturers to request the exclusion of a specific product from the increased duties, especially when the product is not available elsewhere or if it will cause severe economic harm.  

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