Trump Unveils $12 Billion Farm Aid Package Amid China Trade Reset
President Trump is set to announce a $12 billion farm aid package designed to support U.S. farmers amidst evolving trade relations with China. The package allocates $11 billion for the USDA's Farmer Bridge Assistance Program targeting row-crop farmers, while providing $1 billion for farmers whose crops do not qualify for the primary aid.
The announcement will take place at a White House roundtable on Monday, with attendees including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and representatives from corn, soybean, rice, and other crop sectors. The USDA will continue refining package details in response to changing market conditions.
This aid initiative is linked to the 2025 U.S.-China trade talks. In October, President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in South Korea, where Trump reported a 10% tariff reduction on certain goods—from 57% to 47%—in exchange for China’s commitment to address fentanyl issues. Following this, China has increased its soybean purchases, projected to reach 12 million tons by the end of February 2026, according to Scott Bessent. Furthermore, China purchased at least 840,000 metric tons of soybeans for December–January delivery, marking the largest shipment since at least January, as reported by Reuters.
In 2024, China emerged as the leading foreign buyer of U.S. soybeans, accounting for about half of total U.S. soybean exports, valued at approximately $12.6 billion out of $25.8 billion, and importing nearly 27 metric tons.
Bloomberg News first reported the aid package, and White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly affirmed that the administration aims to open new export markets and strengthen the farm safety net.
