'We've lost a lot of contracts': GOP senator admits Trump trade policy now hurting farmers

China’s recent boycott of American soybeans may end up costing American farmers billions of dollars, and, according to one Republican senator, blame should be placed directly on President Donald Trump’s trade policy.

“China is just not budging on this, and unfortunately, we've lost a lot of soybean contracts due to these... elongated negotiations,” Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) admitted Friday while appearing on Newsmax.

China announced the boycott following Trump’s on-and-off again tariffs on the Asian nation, which in April were raised to as high as 125% before being brought back down as a temporary tariff truce. Given China is, by far, the largest importer of American-grown soybeans, the boycott has left farmers enraged, with Trump, reportedly in panic, considering providing farmers with a $10 billion bailout.

Asked about the potential bailout for farmers, Ernst said farmers were not happy with the offer, and stressed the need to find a way to end China’s boycott, rather than subsidize American crop growers.

“Unfortunately, our farmers do need that assistance,” Ernst said. “They don't like it, they do consider it welfare, they want trade not aid, and so we really need to see some of these new markets opening up around the globe. We need to see additional domestic consumption of our commodities like soybeans and corn.”

Ernst has had a tumultuous relationship with the MAGA movement, with critics accusing the Iowa Republicans of “trying on a MAGA suit” to mixed results. She’s demonstrated a strong allegiance to Trump and frequently votes in accordance with his agenda, though has faced scrutiny from MAGA figures for being insufficiently loyal to the president, particularly after reports that she was skeptical of Trump’s pick for Defense secretary, Pete Hegseth.

Perhaps in an effort to signal her continued loyalty to Trump, Ernst’s parting words on the matter of the potential bailout for farmers were ones of praise for the president.

“But if there's anybody that can make a deal, it's President Trump, so we'll continue to hope for the best and we'll help our farmers where and how we can,” Ernst said.