【By Observer Net, Liu Bai】

China has put the purchase of U.S. soybeans on "hold", and American soybean farmers in the harvest season are desperately begging Trump to talk with China.

But what did this U.S. president do?

On October 14 local time, Trump again made a trade extortion against China on social media platforms, claiming that China's "intentional refusal to buy" U.S. soybeans is an "economic hostile act," and he is considering terminating part of the trade relations with China, including the import of edible oil.

The U.S. president wrote on his social platform "Truth Social" that China "intentionally does not purchase our soybeans, which brings difficulties to our soybean farmers, it is an economic hostile act. As a retaliation, we are considering terminating business relations with China in the areas of edible oil and other trade fields."

"For example, we can completely produce edible oil ourselves, without needing to import from China."

Claiming to be for the soybean farmers, but the farmers might feel their hearts go cold.

As for the edible oil that Trump specifically mentioned, the main part of Sino-U.S. edible oil trade is actually used for manufacturing biofuels, waste cooking oil (UCO) imported by the United States.

Since 2020, the quantity of UCO imported by the United States has grown rapidly, rising from less than 90,000 tons in 2020 to over 1.36 million tons in 2023, most of which came from China.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture website, in 2024, China's exports of UCO to the United States reached record levels, making the United States the largest export destination for China's UCO, with an export volume of approximately 1.27 million tons, accounting for about 43% of China's total UCO exports.

But if he uses this as a threat to China, he is still too naive.

Wisconsin, USA, soybeans being harvested in the field. IC photo

Trump should take note that regarding the purchase of U.S. soybeans, China had already clearly stated before, that the tariff war and trade war are not in the interest of any party, both sides should resolve the issues through negotiations based on equality, respect, and mutual benefit.

Data from the American Soybean Association (ASA) shows that China has long been the largest buyer of U.S. soybeans. In 2024, China imported about 27 million tons of soybeans from the United States, worth nearly $12.8 billion, accounting for more than half of the U.S. soybean exports.

However, due to the constant increase in tariff threats and restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, China has suspended the purchase of U.S. soybeans and increased imports from South American countries instead.

According to information from the Chinese main grain port, from January to September this year, the number of U.S. grain ships docking decreased by 56%, from 72 to 32, because since July, the number of U.S. grain ships docking at this port has dropped to zero.

In comparison, since May, an average of more than 40 grain ships from South American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay have docked at this port each month. These grain ships transport soybeans in 90% of cases.

Evidently, Trump has severely misjudged the flexibility and strategic depth of China's trade system. The reduction in U.S. soybean imports by China is not just a passive countermeasure, but rather part of an already advanced supply chain diversification strategy.

China remains calm, while the other side is getting desperate.

With the U.S. soybean harvest season approaching, American farmers who have lost Chinese customers are facing a "battle for survival," and panic is spreading, with many farmers pressuring the Trump government to reach a solution with China.

To reduce dependence on the Chinese market, American soybean farmers went to Vietnam and the Philippines, trying to convince local livestock farmers to increase purchases of U.S. soybeans. But one farmer admitted, "We cannot find a market to replace China overnight."

Several U.S. media outlets have warned together, stating that in the long term, the prospects for the U.S. to resume large-scale soybean exports to China are not optimistic. China doubts the reliability of the U.S. government's trade commitments, and with China promoting its "self-sufficiency" strategy, this may mean that in the foreseeable future, American farmers may face the risk of losing the Chinese market.

In a broader sense, the Sino-U.S. rivalry has entered deeper waters.

"Regarding the tariff war and trade war, China's position has always been consistent. If you want to fight, we will follow you all the way; if you want to talk, the door is open." A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce emphasized on the 14th, "The U.S. side cannot talk and at the same time issue new restrictive measures, threatening and intimidating, this is not the right way to deal with China. The Chinese side urges the U.S. to quickly correct its wrong practices, show sincerity in talks, and move toward each other with China, guided by the important consensus of the two heads of state, to maintain the hard-won negotiation results, continue to play the role of the Sino-U.S. trade consultation mechanism, resolve each other's concerns through dialogue and consultation, properly manage differences, and promote the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of Sino-U.S. trade and economic relations."

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7561240418206958131/

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