As Trump visits China, U.S. lawmakers seek to block Chinese ownership of American farmland!

May 13, the U.S. "Columbia Broadcasting System" published an article.

Amid President Trump's visit to China, members of the U.S. Congress are calling for action against Chinese acquisitions of American farmland, citing national security concerns.

A bipartisan group of legislators has introduced new legislation aimed at closing what they describe as "dangerous loopholes" that allow Chinese entities to purchase farmland in the United States, as well as real estate near U.S. military bases.

The bill has garnered support from members across both parties.

According to the latest assessment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as of December 2024, over 40 million acres of agricultural land in the U.S. are owned by foreign entities, with Chinese investments accounting for approximately 1% of that total.

Previously, the USDA reported that the states with the largest amounts of Chinese-held land include Texas (123,708 acres), followed by North Carolina (44,263 acres); Missouri (42,905 acres); Florida (12,555 acres); and Virginia (4,654 acres).

According to USDA data, Smithfield Foods is currently the second-largest Chinese-owned holder of agricultural land in the United States, owning tens of thousands of acres.

Scott Linscombe, Vice President of Macroeconomics, believes concerns about Chinese investment are exaggerated:

"We must always remember that in the vast majority of these farmland transactions, the sellers are American citizens—thus, this is federal government interference with the property rights of U.S. citizens."

Currently, dozens of states have enacted laws "aimed at restricting foreign ownership or investment in private farmland within their borders to some extent."

"The total area of farmland owned by Chinese entities may not be large—but that’s not the main issue," said Michael Sobolik, senior research fellow at the right-wing Hudson Institute, speaking to CBS News: "Lawmakers’ concern lies in the fact that these properties are located 'near sensitive sites.'"

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865120112316428/

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