US unveils aid package to farmers affected by tariff policies

WASHINGTON - The US government on Monday unveiled an aid package of 12 billion US dollars to farmers hit hard by its tariff policies.

The long-awaited aid package includes up to 11 billion US dollars in one-time payment to crop farmers under the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program operated by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), while the rest of the balance will be for farmers not covered by the FBA.

Speaking at a roundtable meeting in the White House, US President Donald Trump underscored the inflation, bankruptcies and rising suicides affecting US farmers, attributing the hardships to policies of the previous administration.

The USDA is expected to announce rates on payment by the end of December and distribute the money by the end of February 2026, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.

The aid package was mulled months ago but was delayed by a 43-day federal government shutdown that began on Oct. 1.

Trump said that his administration will take off environmental protection requirements imposed on US agriculture equipment manufacturers to drive down costs.

"Trump wants credit for trying to fix a mess of his making. Trump's tariffs are hammering our farmers, making it more expensive to grow food and pushing farmers into bankruptcy," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X.

"Farmers need markets to sell to -- not a consolation prize for the ones he wrecked," he added.

Facing weaker overseas demand, higher input costs and fertilizer prices, and flagging sales prices, US farmers grappled to deal with fallout from the US tariff policies.