Trump Offers $12-B Aid for Farmers Hit Hard by His Tariffs on China

President Donald Trump is planning a $12 billion farm aid package, according to a White House official — a boost to farmers who have struggled to sell their crops while facing rising costs after the president increased tariffs on China as part of a broader trade war, Seung Min Kim reported for the Associated Press (AP).

The aid is the administration’s latest attempt to defend Trump’s economic stewardship and address voter concerns about rising costs.

According to the official, who was granted anonymity to discuss the plan ahead of a formal announcement, Trump will unveil the package Monday afternoon at the White House.

Farmers have been reliable political supporters of Trump, but his aggressive trade policies and frequently shifting tariff rates have drawn increasing scrutiny because of their impact on the agricultural sector and broader consumer worries.

The aid is the administration’s latest attempt to defend Trump’s economic stewardship and address voter concerns about rising costs — even as the president has dismissed affordability issues as a Democratic “hoax.”

Trump insists China was paying the tariffs he imposed, despite the fact that 86% of U.S. importers pay the higher tariffs and pass on the cost to consumers.