Farmers will need government relief this year after the trade war choked off access to key markets, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Sunday.

Why it matters: Thune's comment, following a promise from President Trump earlier in the week, sets up a potential battle over what would likely be a multibillion-dollar package — and a separate fight over why it was needed in the first place.

Catch up quick: China has stopped buying U.S. soybeans, depriving American farmers of their largest export market. • That happened months ago, but the issue came back to the fore this week when the U.S. government pledged to bail out Argentina — and the Argentines promptly turned around and started selling discounted soybeans to China. • Congressional Republicans like Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-

See Full Page