Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, visiting a puppy kennel in Maryland Monday, had time to visit the dogs, but when it came time to answer reporters’ questions about the latest trade conflict with China, that was a different story. Perdue, a former veterinarian, came to Farmsteads Puppy Paradise for ideas to improve kennels nationwide, some long-seen as ‘puppy mills,’ and, after weeks of answering questions on the damage from the president’s trade wars with China and others, Perdue needed to find a ‘paradise,’ away from those questions, though it looked like fun at first, until the trade issue came up. “We don’t have time, sorry,” the response from a press aide, as Secretary Perdue, surrounded by his communications team and security detail scurried to the door to their waiting Chevy Suburban. Perdue’s failure to take press questions after an hour-and-half at the kennel stood in stark contrast to major farm groups’ concerns, Chinese tariffs on US soybeans, beef, pork and other goods will do lasting damage in those markets. Farmers for Free Trade Executive Direct Brian Kuehl says that the administration has taken a “scatter-shot” approach to trade. The very countries that Kuehl says the US needs, to put pressure on China. And, those countries have now placed tariffs of their own on US farm goods, while adding new uncertainty to the fate of trade talks like NAFTA.