Trump Plans Use Tariff Revenue to Aid US Farmers Amid China Trade Dispute

President Trump announced he will use tariff revenue to provide cash aid to farmers hurt in the near term by his import levies, saying payments would bridge losses “until the tariffs kick in” and ultimately benefit producers. Administration officials, including Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, are reportedly weighing a program modeled on the 2018 Market Facilitation Program, but details have not been released. Farmers from soybean growers in South Dakota—facing low prices, high input costs and storage challenges—to Tennessee producers losing $100–$300 per acre say tariffs and shifting trade flows have worsened an already dire outlook. The Tax Foundation estimates tariffs could raise $171.7 billion in 2025 if upheld, but the Supreme Court is set to decide whether the president has authority to impose the levies, creating legal uncertainty for any tariff-funded aid. Critics note the levies have already driven buyers to competitors like Argentina and Brazil, squeezing U.S. exports (especially soybeans), and farm groups and some lawmakers say any payments would be a temporary bridge rather than a long-term solution.