News in brief:
– Brooke Rollins, Trump’s USDA pick, supports his controversial trade and immigration policies, pledging to align the department’s efforts with his agenda despite potential fallout for farmers.
– She plans to mitigate economic impacts with aid, explore new export markets, and implement a four-point agenda to strengthen US agriculture.
Brooke Rollins, who is President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), has revealed her readiness to support his unpopular policies on trade and immigration.
During her confirmation hearing, she did not shy from pronouncing her support for what the White House is trying to achieve. Also, she notably did not deny that Trump had plans to take up the trade war with China from where the Biden administration interrupted him.
Trump’s immigration and trade policies cause panic
The 47th president of the US announced his second attempt at the helm with arrests of undocumented immigrants with mass deportations the expected outcome.
For the farming community, this has led to panic because several of the workers in this industry (about 40%) are in this category. One report claims that some farms have failed to fully harvest all their crops due to ongoing activities.
As for the trade war, it is expected to reduce export earnings from China. The Chinese market has been preparing for Trump’s second presidency by turning its attention to other grain markets.
When asked about these issues, Rollins confirmed where she stood on the matter.
“The President’s vision of a secure border and a mass deportation at a scale that matters is something I support. My commitment is to help President Trump deploy his agenda in an effective way,” she replied.
However, she conceded that there could be economic fallout for farmers and she will work with the administration to ensure that it is mitigated.
Bailout and new markets for farmers
Donald Trump’s previous tenure witnessed a bailout fund of $23 billion for farmers, tagged trade aid. Something similar is expected to be put in place this time around as Rollins mentioned plans to plug holes caused by ‘trade tariffs’. Also, the administration will be exploring new export markets in anticipation of retaliatory tariffs.
While Brooke Rollins has faced criticisms for not being a well-known name in the US agriculture industry, her supporters point to her good relationship with the president. She also used it as leverage when she promised the committee to make the farming community’s labour needs known to Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who Trump picked for Labour Secretary.
In terms of proactive actions, she announced a four-point agenda to strengthen the country’s agricultural sector.
- Efficient Deployment of Economic Aid: Rollins aims to swiftly distribute the $10 billion in disaster and economic assistance approved by Congress to address the farming sector’s economic downturn.
- Combatting Animal Diseases: She plans to tackle the spread of diseases like bird flu and screwworms, with a focus on comprehensively managing outbreaks affecting poultry and livestock.
- Modernizing the USDA: Rollins intends to modernize and realign the USDA, including ending remote work, cutting regulations, and ensuring federal programs are efficient and effective.
- Supporting Rural Communities and Trade Expansion: She seeks to ensure the long-term success of rural communities by expanding trade markets and fostering opportunities for the next generation of farmers.
