USDA authorizes $12 billion to protect farmers from retaliatory tariffs

The Agriculture Department on Tuesday announced that it has authorized up to $12 billion for three programs aimed at shielding U.S. farmers and ranchers from retaliatory tariffs that have been imposed on U.S. goods in response to the administration’s Section 232 and 301 tariffs. USDA officials called the programs a “short-term bridge” to mitigate the impact of “unjustified retaliation” while the administration negotiates trade deals. “This is a short-term solution to allow President Trump time to work on long-term trade...