This is smart.
Look, the Chinese have been very strategic in picking out their trade war targets. China is targeting suppliers from regions and states with the most legislative impact. For example, Harley Davidson is very near Paul Ryan’s district. Much of the farm impact is in Wisconsin and other states with significant legislative pressure. The Chinese aren’t dumb.
Rather than having these politicians go wobbly, so we can prevail in this trade war, as we will, we have to buck up those hardest hit. Generally I do not support passing out taxpayer largess to certain groups, but in this case I totally support it as in the end this will more than pay off through creating fair trade agreements where the entire US is not ripped off.
The administration is using tax payer money to buy votes in red states going into the mid-terms.
Farmers are a teeny weeny tiny part of the electorate.