Administration Working on Measures to Protect Farmers in Trade Fight With China
WASHINGTON—The Trump administration is working on measures that protect agriculture and other critical industries from retaliatory tariffs being threatened by China amid an escalating trade dispute between the two countries, a top adviser to President Donald Trump said.
Peter Navarro told reporters on Tuesday that Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and others in the administration are taking into account the potential impact of retaliatory tariffs on those industries and are making provisions.
The administration is “working on measures that will have the backs of farmers,” he said. “I can assure you we are not unprepared.”
On Monday, Mr. Trump escalated a trade conflict with China, asking his administration to identify a new list of $200 billion in Chinese goods that would be penalized with tariffs.
The move followed tariffs applied last week on $50 billion in Chinese imports to the U.S., designed to punish China over allegations of unfair trade practices.
