US/China Trade Deal Announced While Perdue Speaks at Southern University

U.S. and Chinese officials Friday announced a limited preliminary agreement to halt the trade war with President Donald Trump removing the threat of new tariffs on China and China agreeing to some new economic rules, as well as unspecified purchases of American farm goods and other products.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue at the Southern University 2019 Fall Commencement.

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was in Baton Rouge Friday to address the commencement exercises at Southern University. “Trade is vital to Louisiana and to the U.S. ag economy because our producers are so productive and produce more than we can consume domestically,” said the secretary, “We have to have trade as a lifeline economically.”

Perdue said that’s a good thing to have noting the U.S. has food security and “we’re not dependent on anyone else for our food supply. President Trump has fulfilled his commitment of making a more modern and a better deal in every respect.”

But missing from both sides was a reference to how much additional American farm products or other goods China will purchase as part of the limited pact.