US being battered by its own trade blows

So some pain relief is to finally be administered. In an admission that the escalating trade disputes it has initiated with China and other countries is hurting the United States, the Trump administration announced on Tuesday it will provide $12 billion in emergency aid to ease the misery of US farmers.

With the midterm elections coming up, there is a political consideration behind the Trump administration extending financial aid to US farmers, as it does not want to lose its support in the agricultural states.

It has become increasingly evident that US farmers have been hurt as a result of the Trump administration's injudicious trade stance. If the disputes are prolonged, $12 billion will be far from enough to make up for the losses the US farmers will suffer. In addition, the government support for farmers is likely to prompt calls for similar treatment from other sectors that are suffering because of the trade frictions.