Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley and Montana Sen. Jon Tester are among farmers who applied for Trump tariff payments, reported the Washington Post. The senators were the only lawmakers to tell the newspaper that they would seek payments; 12 said they would not apply and 13 declined to comment or had not responded to the query.
The USDA put the $6.2 billion program in operation shortly after Labor Day and paid $25 million, disbursed through 7,800 checks, before the end of September. The USDA organized the payments in response to trade war with China. Other major U.S. export customers, including Canada, Mexico and the European Union, also have imposed retaliatory tariffs on U.S. farm exports.
“Sen. Grassley participates in farm programs for which he is legally eligible, including this program, like every other farmer,” said a spokesman for the Iowa Republican. A spokeswoman for Tester, a Democrat, said the senator was unable to sell half of his 2017 wheat crop due to “lack of access to markets” and has filled out the aid application.