Trump’s $40 billion Argentina bailout hurts American farmers amid trade war

On Could 19, President Donald Trump’s Division of Agriculture unveiled its so-called “Farmers First” coverage initiative with an aggressive advertising and marketing marketing campaign. There was a press convention with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, a social media marketing campaign selling the initiative and a shiny pamphlet proclaiming the arduous work and dignity of America’s household farmers.

5 months later, American farmers are experiencing collateral injury within the administration’s international commerce struggle.

The financial scenario within the farming international locations is changing into more and more dire. In my residence state of Minnesota, soy farmers are buckling underneath the burden of the president’s tariffs, which have decimated their key export markets. Final month I met with lots of them in Lakeville, Minnesota to speak about how tariffs are driving up enter prices and placing stress on their companies.

President Donald Trump greets Argentine President Javier Milei on the White Home, October 14, 2025. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu by way of Getty Photos)

Nationally, farm bankruptcies are up 57% in 2025 in comparison with 2024. And since 27% of our nation’s farmers and ranchers depend on the Inexpensive Care Act for well being care, too many rural People will face skyrocketing well being care prices if Republicans enable the ACA tax credit to run out on the finish of the 12 months.

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As farmers wrap up the harvest season with out their beforehand dependable clients, like China, lining as much as purchase their produce, you’d suppose the federal government may reignite its Farmers First agenda. As a substitute, President Trump is utilizing his energy to spice up one in all our fundamental rivals in agriculture and kick American farmers whereas they’re in bother. Enter: his $40 billion taxpayer-funded bailout package deal for Argentina.

Argentina is the world’s largest soy producer after Brazil and america. And since President Trump alienated China—the world’s largest purchaser of soybeans—with tariffs, Argentine soy farmers have primarily changed American farmers.

In October, Argentinian farmers bought 2.5 million tons of soybeans to China – whereas American soybeans bought just about zero. In a standard 12 months, China buys greater than 50% of soybeans grown within the U.S., producing about $13 billion for U.S. farmers every crop 12 months. That is $13 billion value of soybean exports down the drain.

President Trump claims that his current assembly along with his “very, superb good friend,” President Xi Jinping of China, who pledged to renew purchases of U.S.-grown soybeans at ranges final seen underneath the Biden administration, is the brilliant mild on the finish of a really painful tunnel.

After almost a 12 months of manufactured disaster within the farm nation, the chief dealmaker has obtained a obscure promise from China to return to the established order. And that is like the deal manages emigrate from fantasy to actuality. China purchased not one of the $200 billion in extra US exports it promised after putting a “deal” with Trump following his commerce struggle with China throughout his first administration.

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America’s farmers are struggling, and tariffs are elevating the price of dwelling exterior agricultural international locations as properly. 12 months after 12 months, meals manufacturing is growing by 3%, beef costs are at report highs and occasional, up over 19%, is not an inexpensive caffeine repair.

Regardless of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declaring the bailout “mission vital,” the president has overtly admitted that the American individuals won’t profit from his $40 billion giveaway to Argentina. And we all know that American farmers definitely will not. Maybe that’s the reason a majority of voters disapprove of the federal government’s bailout for Argentina.

President Donald Trump shakes palms with Chinese language President Xi Jinping throughout a bilateral assembly at Gimhae Worldwide Airport in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025. (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)

The truth is, the one individuals who will profit from this bailout are President Trump and his ally, Argentine President Javier Milei, whose corrupt insurance policies have pushed Argentina into an financial disaster. Effectively, and the Wall Road financiers who positioned dangerous bets on its unstable economic system.

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And the president isn’t solely saving Argentina’s bankers, but additionally their agricultural sector. Lately, the president infuriated American ranchers by asserting a plan to quadruple imports of Argentine beef, roiling livestock markets and hitting American ranchers squarely within the pocketbooks after years of drought and declining markets drove them to the brink.

If there may be any semblance of reality to “Farmers First” – or “America First” – President Trump ought to finish his affair with Argentina and concentrate on the People who’re struggling right here at residence.

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