Trump Prepares US$12 Billion Aid For US Farmers Affected By Tariffs

UNSPLASH/Jonathan Singer ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - United States President Donald Trump is preparing to announce a $12 billion financial aid package for farmers affected by trade rates.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, December 8, citing government officials, the package worth about 200 trillion rupiahs will be announced at today's round table meeting.

This package comes after months of discussions by administrative officials on how to help US farmers face economic challenges due to the trade war.

Most of the packages, valued at 11 billion dollars, will be provided as a one-time payment through the Farmer Bridge Assistance program to support US food crop farmers.

The remaining one billion dollars is allocated to commodities that are not included in the main program, the report said.

This assistance will provide a significant boost for US soybean farmers affected by trade tensions with China this year.

The funds are expected to help farmers lower their debts and cover planting costs for the next planting season.

In the first half of 2025, agricultural bankruptcy increased by about 60 percent compared to the previous year, amid low harvest prices despite a record harvest in the fall.

In mid-November, China resumed purchasing US soybeans with the first shipment of 330,000 tonnes, following a deal between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.

The deal stipulates China bought a minimum of 12 million metric tons of US soybeans in the last two months of 2025, and at least 25 million metric tons per year in 2026' 2028.

China had stopped purchases in May 2025 following the announcement of the US high tariff against Beijing.

In fact, soybeans are the main US exports to China, worth 12.64 billion dollars or 26.81 million metric tons by 2024, the US Department of Agriculture said.