Reference News Network, October 29 report - According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post website, October 28 report, increasingly desperate American farmers are strongly urging President Trump to take a conciliatory rather than confrontational approach towards China, many of whom voted for him in the election.

The harvest season has quietly passed without orders from China, and the costs of equipment and fertilizers have increased for American farmers. They said that partnership, not pressure on Beijing, is more in the interest of both sides.

The report stated that many people are dissatisfied with Washington's failure to design tariffs that do not affect their livelihoods, saying they had expected Trump to act more quickly on this issue.

David Birely, a third-generation farmer from Maryland, said: "I don't think we can force the Chinese to do anything. I don't think that's the attitude we need."

He described China as a "good partner" and emphasized that "this must be a relationship or partnership that works for everyone."

Farmers now feel that Trump seems to not understand their difficulties, and many of them supported this president who advocated "America First".

Due to the fluctuating trade relationship with China, increasing bankruptcies, and Argentina and Brazil taking over the Chinese market, American farmers feel left behind.

Birely, a supporter of Trump, described him as a "very successful businessman." He said that the president understands real estate and finance, but not agriculture. He pointed out that this situation also existed in previous governments.

John Bateman, a fifth-generation farmer from Illinois, said: "Unfortunately, tariffs hit everyone." He believes that Trump did not consider the farmers.

Bateman said: "He will push us further into bankruptcy. The increase in the rate of farm bankruptcies is unfortunate and should not happen."

The National Farmers Union said that over 200 American farmers applied for bankruptcy in 2024.

The organization's recent report said: "From 2017 to 2022, the United States has completely lost more than 140,000 farms, and another 20,000 were lost in the past two years."

For American farmers, the Sino-US trade tensions during Trump's administration have been a recurring nightmare.

A recent report from the Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that by October 2025, American farmers will "miss out on $5.7 billion worth of soybean exports to China."

It warned that the heartland of the United States could bear "disproportionate burdens."

Another anonymous farmer from Maryland described the negotiations with China as a "situation of mutual compromise."

He said: "I think we have reached a point where it seems we cannot force them to do anything."

(Translation by Yang Xinpeng)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7566529954284896808/

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