US has found ‘sweet spot’ on trade, Dewine says

When asked about Ohio farmers losing three-fourths of their soybean sales to China amid a trade war, Gov. Mike Dewine said Ohioans have been “kicked around” on international trade.

But he said President Donald Trump has found the “sweet spot” in his trade policies on behalf of the American economy.

Hours before he was scheduled to join Trump for a political fundraiser in Canton on Wednesday evening, Dewine was asked what he would say to Ohio farmers after new state statistics show that their sales of soybeans to China dropped by 74 percent, or $458 million, last year.

“I think as I talk to the average Ohioan in regard to trade, they believe that Ohio historically — the United States, including Ohio — has been kicked around by other countries in regard to trade,” Dewine said Wednesday.

“The average Ohioan, I think, understands that. They want us to be more

aggressive. But they also know that we cannot end up in a trade war, so there’s a balance. There’s a sweet spot, and that’s where we are with trade,” the governor said.

The Trump administration launched a trade war last year with China, which responded with tariffs on American soybean imports. To help farmers offset their lost sales, the Trump administration provided $12 billion in relief payments to farmers across the country. But experts say that taxpayer aid does not

make up for all of the losses endured by farmers.

Trade talks with Chinese officials continue amid a battle of tariffs on both Americanand Chinese-produced goods.

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper said, “Anyone knows that if you want to do damage to Ohio, perhaps the two most arguably important parts of Ohio’s economy are soybeans and autos.

“Rather than saying we are hitting the sweet spot, Dewine should be saying,

‘Mr. President, with all due respect, your policies are really, really hurting this state,’” Pepper said. “At some point, Mike Dewine has to decide whether he is going to stand with Ohioans and their economy or the president.”

Dewine was scheduled to join Trump at a reception and dinner Wednesday night in Canton to raise money for the president’s 2020 re-election bid and the Republican National Committee, with tickets ranging up to $70,000 per couple for dinner.

After handily carrying Ohio over Democrat Hilary Clinton in 2016, retaining the state is seen as a key to Trump’s chances of winning a second term. But his visit to Ohio came amid the closure of the GM Lordstown plant, farmers taking a hit in the trade war with China and and his possible diversion of $112 million from Ohio military projects to help build out his desired wall on the Mexican border.