Support for Farmers Affected by Trade
Official: To establish a Tariff Response and Damages to Exports fund, and for other purposes.
This bill sets up a fund to support farmers who lose money due to trade problems, like tariffs or reduced access to foreign markets. It aims to help stabilize the agricultural sector during tough economic times caused by international competition.
This bill establishes the Tariff Response And Damages to Exports Fund within the Treasury, authorizes certain revenues collected from duties (e. g., tariffs) on certain agricultural products to be deposited into the fund, and requires the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to use the fund to make payments to agricultural producers affected by trade-related market disruptions. Specifically, the bill authorizes the President to deposit into this fund any revenues collected from duties on imported products that are classified under Chapters 1-24 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (which includes, among other products, live animals, animal and vegetable products, seafood, prepared foodstuffs, and beverages). USDA must use any amounts deposited into the fund to make payments to agricultural producers that have been affected by trade-related marketed disruptions, including losses USDA determines are due to (1) decreased exports, (2) tariff or non-tariff barriers imposed by foreign countries, or (3) increases in the costs of items and goods necessary for the production of agricultural commodities and livestock. USDA must annually report to Congress on the total revenues transferred into the fund, the economic impacts on affected agricultural producers, and a summary of assistance provided to these agricultural producers. The authorities provided by the bill terminate on September 30, 2030, and the bill permanently rescinds the unobligated balances of all amounts available in the fund as of this date.