Overview

• Trump has imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese goods, prompting a 125% retaliatory tariff from China that targets key U.S. agricultural exports like soybeans and beef.
• Farmers are calling for a new bailout as they grapple with rising input costs, lost export markets, and devastating extreme weather events in recent weeks.
• Trump has touted his previous $28 billion bailout for farmers during his first term and signaled potential relief measures, but critics argue this approach is unsustainable and contradictory.
• Cuts to federal agriculture programs and layoffs in the Department of Agriculture have reduced vital support services, intensifying the strain on rural communities.
• Experts warn that prolonged trade disruptions could cause long-term damage to U.S. agriculture by eroding global market share and worsening financial instability for small and midsize farms.