Perdue On China, Trade Mitigation, More

During a recent stop in Kansas, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue discussed the latest on the trade front with China.

"I'm concerned we've become too dependent on a major customer there, that does not have our best national interest in their thinking."

Perdue noted that the China trade impact on U-S Ag sales was a major factor in determining payment levels under USDA's Trade Mitigation Program.

"We calculate this very scientifically based on the degree of tariff impact, the relation between soy beans and corn, for instance, was such a wide diversity because corn was not impacted by the trade tariffs as much. China bought very little corn from us."

He added the USDA determined those numbers objectively.  The second of payments from the trade mitigation program is expected next month.

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