Washington DC [US], December 9 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a USD 12 billion aid package for American farmers as his administration seeks to support an agricultural sector hit hard by tariffs, rising costs, and a prolonged trade dispute with China. The announcement came during a White House event attended by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, lawmakers, and representatives from the farming community.
Trump said the assistance—funded through revenue collected from US tariffs—would provide stability for farmers as they bring this year’s harvest to market and prepare for next season. “This relief will provide much-needed certainty to farmers … and it’ll help them continue their efforts to lower food prices for American families,” he said.
Rollins noted that farmers can apply for the aid in the coming weeks, with disbursement scheduled by February 28, 2026. Officials said that roughly USD 11 billion of the package is earmarked for the Department of Agriculture’s Farmer Bridge Assistance Programme, which will issue one-time payments to farmers growing row crops.
As the administration outlined the plan, Bessent emphasised the importance of stability for producers planning for 2026. “You’ve got to start financing for planning next year when things will be very good,” he told CBS News on Sunday.
The relief package follows a year of steep losses for American farmers, particularly in soybean revenue, after China halted purchases in May in retaliation for new US tariffs. China, which has bought more than half of all US soybean exports over the past five years, agreed in a preliminary trade deal in October to resume purchases. US officials said in November that China would buy at least 12 million metric tonnes of soybeans in the last two months of 2025. However, Chinese imports may still fall short of typical levels, CBS News reported.
Farmers have also faced rising production costs and shrinking margins across crops including corn, soybeans and cotton. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, crop prices have declined over the past two years. Bessent said domestic soybean prices have risen by up to 15% since the recent agreement with China. The administration had begun considering a financial relief programme in October, but the proposal was delayed by the 43-day US government shutdown that ended in mid-November.
During the same White House event, Trump also signaled the possibility of imposing new tariffs on agricultural imports from India and Canada, citing concerns over competition faced by American farmers. He said he would “take care” of alleged dumping of Indian rice into the US market, with farmers complaining that imports from India, Vietnam and Thailand have pushed down rice prices. “They shouldn’t be dumping … You can’t do that,” Trump said.
The President also suggested potential tariff measures on fertiliser imported from Canada, arguing that stronger domestic production was needed. “A lot of it does come in from Canada, and so we’ll end up putting very severe tariffs on that, if we have to, because that’s the way you want to bolster here,” he said. “And we can do it here.”
The remarks come as US farmers—one of Trump’s key constituencies—continue to grapple with high input costs, inflationary pressures, and uncertainty in global markets. Trade talks with India and Canada have made little progress, and no significant breakthrough is expected during an upcoming visit by a US delegation to New Delhi. Earlier this year, Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, citing trade barriers and energy policy disputes.
The administration has also maintained a tough stance on Canadian imports, with Trump previously threatening new duties on products outside the North American trade agreement and even hinting at revisiting the deal itself. (ANI)
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