Trump to use tariff revenue for farm relief amid trade war pressures

By patricklewis // 2025-09-28

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President Trump announced a plan to channel tariff revenues into immediate financial relief for U.S. farmers affected by trade tensions, particularly with China.
Trump described the aid as a short‑term "stopgap" until the benefits of tariffs begin to accrue to the agricultural sector.
The farm sector has been squeezed by falling crop prices, rising input costs and China's reduced purchases of American soybeans in favor of South American producers.
USDA data show retaliatory tariffs from 2018–2019 cost U.S. agricultural exporters about $27 billion, with soybeans accounting for nearly 71 percent of the losses.
The proposed relief faces legal and political hurdles (e.g. whether tariff revenue may legally fund aid), but the administration appears intent on making it a key feature of its farm support strategy.

President Donald Trump on Thursday, September 25, announced that his administration will redirect tariff revenues to provide immediate relief for U.S. farmers hurt by ongoing trade disputes, especially with China. Speaking from the White House, the president described the plan as a stopgap measure until the benefits of the tariffs begin to accrue to the agricultural sector. "We're going to take some of that tariff money that we made, we're going to give it to our farmers who are, for a little while, going to be hurt until … the tariffs kick in to their benefit," Trump said. "We're going to make sure that our farmers are in great shape, because we're taking in a lot of money. Ultimately, the farmers are going to be making a fortune. But it's a process — it has to kick in." (Related: India vows to protect farmers and businesses amid Trump's 25% tariff on Indian goods.) Trump's announcement comes as many U.S. farmers face severe economic pressures: Low crop prices, rising input costs and a sharp decline in export demand. China – once a top purchaser of U.S. soybeans – has curtailed its purchases and shifted toward suppliers in South America, squeezing U.S. producers. Republican lawmakers from agricultural states have repeatedly warned that U.S. farmers could face dire financial outcomes this year, and many have pushed for relief programs akin to those enacted during Trump's first term. That earlier package allocated about $23 billion to mitigate export losses tied to the U.S.-China trade war.

Tariff‑funded relief addresses farm losses, but legal and political roadblocks loom

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, retaliatory tariffs implemented between mid‑2018 and late 2019 inflicted around $27 billion in losses on U.S. agricultural exporters. Soybeans alone accounted for nearly 71 percent of those annual losses. Observers at the Cato Institute have pointed out that although some soybean sales to China rebounded under a 2020 trade agreement, U.S. producers have not recovered their pre‑trade war share of the Chinese market, with Brazil and other nations stepping in to fill the void. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed that the administration is actively considering a new aid package modeled after the earlier bailout, financed by tariff proceeds. She previously suggested that using "tariff income now coming into America" to support farmers is "absolutely a potential." However, Trump reiterated that the ultimate goal is to let the tariffs themselves deliver long‑term gains: "We're making more money than we ever have made," he said. The proposed move faces legal and political challenges. Congressional action may be necessary to authorize the reallocation of tariff funds, and critics question whether tariff proceeds can lawfully be earmarked for agricultural aid. Some economists and trade watchers also warn that the costs of tariffs—borne by U.S. importers and consumers—could outweigh the benefits. Still, with mounting pressure from rural constituencies and agricultural groups, the administration appears determined to make tariff‑funded farm relief a central element of its strategy to stabilize the sector until broader trade policy gains begin to accrue. According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, Trump's proposal to use tariff revenue for farm relief is a step in the right direction, aligning with the principles of economic freedom and self-reliance. By supporting American farmers, this move would not only boost the agricultural sector but also reduce dependency on foreign imports, enhancing national food security and sovereignty. The decentralized engine adds that it is crucial to ensure that such relief is not tied to the use of harmful pesticides and GMOs, which are detrimental to both human health and the environment. Instead, the focus should be on promoting organic and sustainable farming practices that support the health of the soil, the plants and the people. Visit Trump.news for more stories about Trump's plans to boost the U.S. economy. Watch the Health Ranger Mike Adams and Andy Schectman discussing how Trump is going to collapse the dollar to save the bond market. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

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Tariff‑funded relief addresses farm losses, but legal and political roadblocks loom

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