Payam Javan: President Donald Trump announced on Sept. 25 that tariff revenues would be redirected to support U.S. farmers until trade policies begin yielding benefits for them. Speaking at the White House, Trump said the government would use money collected from import levies to ensure farmers remain financially stable, despite near-term hardships. He emphasized that while the adjustment period may be difficult, “ultimately, the farmers are going to be making a fortune.”

The announcement comes as America’s agricultural sector faces mounting challenges from low crop prices and escalating trade disputes with China. Beijing, once the top buyer of U.S. soybeans, has shifted purchases to South American suppliers during ongoing tariff negotiations. The disruption has left American farmers struggling, prompting calls from Republican lawmakers for relief measures similar to the $23 billion bailout program implemented during Trump’s first term.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, retaliatory tariffs during the last trade war cost U.S. farmers $27 billion in lost exports between mid-2018 and late 2019, with soybeans bearing the brunt of the impact. Although a 2020 agreement with China restored some sales, American farmers have yet to regain their pre-trade war market share. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed that an aid program is under consideration. Trump, however, remained upbeat, declaring, “We’re making more money than we ever have made” from tariff collections.