U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) commended a $16 billion federal agriculture support package announced last week that will ease the impact of Chinese trade tariffs on cherry growers in his home state.
“This is very welcome news for central Washington’s cherry growers,” Rep. Newhouse said. “Our farmers have been patient as the administration negotiates a fair and reciprocal trade agreement with China, but our cherry producers have felt the real effects of the retaliatory tariffs.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on July 25 released details of the package that includes federal funding for the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which provides direct payments and financial relief to American producers.
The MFP includes aid specific for Washington state cherry growers, thanks to a bipartisan, bicameral provision offered by Rep. Newhouse and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
The provision, which in June became law as part of the bipartisan disaster supplemental budget bill, increases access to the MFP for sweet cherry growers provided that 75 percent of the grower’s income comes from farming, ranching or forestry-related activities. The one-time payments will be made available through the Trade Aid Package.
“Thank you, Secretary Perdue, for working with us to provide them with this much-needed assistance,” said Rep. Newhouse, referring to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue.