Trump Administration Considers Doubling Aid to Soybean Rival Argentina

As family farmers continue to wait for an aid package that President Donald Trump last month claimed that he could fund with tariff revenue, they now watch as the administration considers doubling its financial support for Argentina.

The partial shutdown of the federal government could be slowing Trump’s $10+ billion package for U.S. farmers. But the optics of working on giving Trump’s political ally, Argentine President Javier Milei, four times that much doesn’t sit well with some American farmers questioning the president’s priorities.

Milei is trying to build support among voters before the upcoming election as he has faced criticism for large cuts to federal spending and other reductions to government programs.

Argentina suspended its export taxes on soybeans after it received the first round of $20 billion in U.S.-led funding. China capitalized on the reduced export costs and bought millions of tons of soybeans from Argentina instead of from its traditional soybean trade partner, United States farmers.

U.S. Farmers Criticize Trump Aid to Argentina

“Our farmers are angry,” said Polk County farmer and president of the Iowa Farmers Union Aaron Lehman told KCCI-TV in Des Moines, Iowa. 

“We’re facing a financial crisis because we’ve been avoiding common-sense trade policies and instead have started trade wars with many countries around the world,” Lehman said as he questioned Trump’s commitment to helping U.S. farmers in crisis instead of Argentina.

Amid Trump’s global trade war, with particular focus on China, Argentina – not the United States – has become the supplier of soybeans.

That is compounding problems for U.S. farmers and something that Lehman doesn’t think should happen.  

“In the meantime, a promised aid package to U.S. farmers sits on the government’s back shelf,” he said. “This is putting U.S. farmers at risk. How can the current administration justify a bailout for Argentina, continue a trade war with China, and then fail to deliver a promised aid package to U.S. farmers?”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration’s attention to Argentina. He said the second round of funding would come from the private sector. "It is a private sector solution to Argentina's upcoming debt payments," Bessent said, according to Axios. “Many banks are interested in it, and many sovereign funds have expressed interest in it."

RELATED: This Arkansas farmer wants the Trump administration to immediately take action to help family farmers.