Trump’s Big Move: $12 Billion Aid Package to Protect Farmers From China Dispute

Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a major assistance plan of $12 billion for the country's farmers. This package has been designed to provide relief to those farmers who are facing the brunt of increasing trade tensions and tariff disputes with China. Finance Minister Scott Besant, Agriculture Minister Brooke Rollins, several MPs, and representatives of the farming community were present at the event organized at the White House.

Trump said that the money for this plan will be taken out of government revenue from US tariffs. According to him, this assistance will be of great help to the farmers in selling this year's crop and preparing for the next season. He said this relief will also further their efforts to keep food prices under control.

The money will reach the hands of farmers by 28 February

According to Agriculture Minister Rollins, farmers will be able to apply for this assistance in the coming weeks, and this amount will be given to them by February 28, 2026. About $11 billion has been set aside for the Agriculture Department's "Farm Bridge Assistance Program," which will provide one-time payments to farmers for crops, officials said.

Finance Minister Besant said that this scheme will give stability and confidence to the farmers for the next year. While talking to CBS News, he said that farmers should plan for the future only when there is clarity about their income.

The announcement comes at a time when China almost stopped buying US soybeans in retaliation. China has been the largest buyer of US soybeans, and more than half of US soybean exports over the past five years have gone to that country. According to the Iowa Farm Bureau, this boycott has cost farmers billions of dollars in lost income.

Agreement on restarting soybean trade

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached a preliminary trade deal in October, agreeing to resume soybean purchases. In November, officials said China would buy at least 12 million metric tons of soybeans in the last two months of 2025. However, experts believe that procurement may not reach normal levels.

The burden on farmers has already increased

The trade war has increased the problems of American farmers. Farmers, already troubled by rising input costs and falling crop prices, are now facing huge losses on corn, soybeans, and cotton. Data from the American Farm Bureau Federation show that crop prices have declined steadily over the past two years.

According to Finance Minister Besant, domestic soybean prices have increased by about 15% since the agreement with China. In October, the administration began work on financial assistance for farmers, and sources said the relief amount could exceed $10 billion.