The Trump administration announced Tuesday it will provide $12 billion in emergency relief to ease the pain of American farmers affected by President Donald Trump’s trade disputes with China and other countries. The Agriculture Department said it would tap an existing program to provide billions in direct payments to farmers and ranchers hurt by foreign retaliation to Trump’s tariffs. The administration said the program was just temporary. “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 as administration officials argued that the plan was not a “bailout” of the nation’s farmers.
