Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue is hoping that a third round of trade aid payments to farmers will be unnecessary in 2020 because of a new trade deal with China. Speaking with reporters after returning from a “successful” trade mission to Mexico, Sec. Perdue says farmers “would rather have trade than aid.” At the same time, he did say the second round of 2019 trade aid is approved and will be heading to farmers soon.
“We have just gotten authorization on the second tranche,” he said. “I expect payments to be out to farmers by late November or early December.”
The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement was one of the big topics of conversation on the trip to Mexico. Perdue says Mexican officials are hoping Congress will sign off on the agreement as soon as possible.
“They’ve done their work, as you know, and they’re anxious for us to complete our task as well,” Perdue says.
Immigration was another topic of conversation with Mexican officials. Perdue is hopeful that the Mexican government will begin a program to “pre-certify” workers southeast Mexico for the H-2A Program. Southeast Mexico is one of the most poverty-stricken areas of the country.