They are the first victims of his customs policy, but the American farmers continue to support and put their trust in Donald Trump. For the Midterms, the US president can count on their vote, as two years ago.
by William Poutrain
In 2016, 70% of the American farmers have voted for Donald Trump in presidential elections. Two years ago, they are the first impacted by his trade war against China. Soy price has plummeted by 20% and the farm incomes drop by 50% since five years. The corn and pig producers suffer the surtaxes imposed by Trump to Canada, China and Mexico that are the principal countries to import American farm productions. China has responded to United States surtaxing American productions as punitive custom duties.
The democrat William Alan Reinsch holds the Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and served for 15 years as president of the National Foreign Trade Council. For him, « the American farmers are the first victims of Trump policy, as he declared to the French media Libération. Besides the price drop, they have lost the access to some markets. They suffer from the retirement from the Transatlantic Partnership. An it could be worst if Trump decides to leave the NAFTA.»
But farmers continue to trust in Trump, notably because they trust in the negotiations with European Union, Japan and United Kingdom that they considered as the resolution of their problem.
More over, last summer, Donald Trump has announced a 12 billions package of financial assistance to offset losses of farmers. Finally, in September, the US Department of Agriculture projected on a 4,7 billions package, for cotton, sorghum, corn, pigs, milk and wheat producers.
After all, American farmers are convinced that the customs policy of Donald Trump is necessary to protect their country and its economy. More over, they support the right to carry firearms.
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