Ever thought your soya sauce could be caught up in politics? The US-China soybean spat is heating up, and farmers are front and centre. 🌱🚜
After U.S. President Trump slapped tariffs on Chinese goods, the Chinese mainland struck back with a 20% counter-duty on American soybeans—cutting off America’s top market almost overnight.
In 2024, the Chinese mainland scooped up 49% of all U.S. soybean exports—worth a whopping $12.6 billion—making it the go-to buyer for American growers. But this fall is set to be the first in nearly 20 years that mainland importers haven’t purchased a single U.S. bushel.
From January to July 2025, exports plunged 39% in volume compared to last year, according to the latest U.S. government data. Farmers like Travis Hutchison in Cordova, Maryland, are feeling the squeeze. "They've been our biggest customer—losing their market means we've got to find new ones. It's easier to maintain a market you already have than build demand from scratch," he says.
To soften the blow, the U.S. administration is planning to use tariff revenue to help farmers cover their losses. Meanwhile, the Chinese mainland is shopping in South America: Brazil shipped a record-breaking 2.5 billion bushels from January to August 2025, with 76% headed to the mainland. Argentina even paused its soybean export taxes in September to make its offers more competitive.
For U.S. farmers, this battle is more than numbers—it's about long-term ties. "We're in the farming game for the long haul," Hutchison adds. "We hope a trade deal gives everyone a fair shake so we can keep planting trust alongside our crops."
Bottom line: the soybean showdown is a high-stakes game of global trade that touches everything from farm gates to dinner tables worldwide. 🌍
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
