The new front in the trade war: China’s soybean snub forces U.S. farmers to brace for a brutal harvest
Once again, Trump decisions are showing him to be a liar to the American people.
Maybe this time the people will realise that what Donald Trump is doing is not actually helping them. Perhaps this is the moment that the majority of Americans see the light, move away from thinking his authoritarian tropes make no sense, and instead manage only to isolate the country from its neighbours and allies. It could be that one more step in the wrong direction for the wannabe Putin causes the cracks to deepen past the point of no return.
What am I talking about? This is a cult!
Whatever Donald Trump says, his suited henchmen — at least publicly — believe it. And his loyal citizens will throw their own moral compass out of the window to make sure they align with his views that dart from the light side of the right to the darker regions. So when he says tariffs are good — despite the evidence, expert advice, and live numbers all saying otherwise — the people continue to wear his hat.
Before the trade war, China purchased the majority of U.S. soybeans, making it a key market for American farmers. But Trump’s tariffs in February disrupted this crucial market, prompting China to look elsewhere. Brazil, with its lower production costs and favourable currency, quickly filled the gap, leaving U.S. soybeans on the sidelines. Today, Brazilian farmers dominate the Chinese market, while American growers scramble to find buyers amid falling prices.
The consequences for U.S. farmers are stark: soybean sales have taken a steep dive, and with harvest season just weeks away, they warn that the situation is getting dire. Many producers, particularly in the Midwest, are now facing a harvest season shadowed by financial insecurity. The tariffs, meant to “protect” American agriculture, have instead undermined it, highlighting the real-world cost of Trump’s confrontational trade strategies.
Experts warn that without a renewed trade agreement, the losses could be massive. Estimates suggest U.S. farmers could miss out on 14 to 16 million tons in potential sales if China does not resume purchases.
“Our family is involved in the farming business, in soybeans and corn, so I’m very sensitive to this and very up-to-date,” a Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told The New York Times. “The American farmers have been very loyal, 90 percent of rural voters voted for President Trump. So they should know that their interests are his interests.”
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Officials from the United States and China are set to meet for another round of economic negotiations in Spain this week. We await to see if the Trump administration remember they are there on behalf of the people of the country they serve.
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