Trump's farmer bailout raises fears about trade war winners and losers

9 October 2025

Businesses across the US have been crying out for months about

the damage inflicted by sweeping tariffs President Donald Trump imposed

earlier this year.Now one group is poised to get relief: farmers.

President Trump has said his administration is developing plans to

send billions of dollars in support to farmers, especially growers of soybeans,

 who have been hurt as purchases from China - the world's biggest buyer of

the legume - have dried up this year.

The plan is a reprise of the bailout Trump extended to farmers hit

by the trade wars of his first term and reflects pressure he is facing

from a key part of his voter base over the consequences of his tariff policies.

But the plans have frustrated many other kinds of businesses that have also been

 hurt,

as the new taxes on imports raise costs for firms based in the US and alienate

 long-time customers overseas.