Paul blasts Trump: Remove your tariffs, don’t give ‘welfare for farmers’

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Tuesday ripped President Trump’s offering $12 billion in aid to farmers impacted by his recent retaliatory tariffs — instead of removing the initial tariffs altogether.

Tariffs are taxes that punish American consumers and producers. If tariffs punish farmers, the answer is not welfare for farmers — the answer is remove the tariffs.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 24, 2018

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced earlier Tuesday it would offer $12 billion in emergency aid for farmers impacted by the tariffs on American grain, produce and meat exports.

{mosads}Trump has faced criticism from some Republicans for his tariffs on goods from traditional U.S. trading partners such as China, as well as close allies including the European Union, Canada and Mexico.

Those countries responded with tariffs on U.S. agricultural products like soybeans, beef, corn and poultry.

Paul was critical of Trump’s tariffs last month when responding to the retaliatory measures on Kentucky whiskey.

Paul told The Hill in a statement at the time that the retaliatory tariffs “would be a major blow to Kentucky’s economy and our country’s recent economic gains.”

“While I agree we must take a tough stand against countries that are cheating, I do not believe the solution is to impose taxes on consumers and our most important trading partners,” he said.