U.S.-China soybean trade has long served as the most intuitive "thermometer" for American farmers to gauge the temperature of bilateral relations. Not long ago, the U.S. Soybean Export Council organized a large gathering attended by officials and business representatives from both countries.
China's Consul General in Chicago spoke candidly: soybeans have long been the "bridge" of agricultural cooperation between the two nations, carrying significant weight in trade. In 2022, U.S. soybean exports to China reached a new record—though it was the "last glorious moment." Last year, the U.S. initiated a tariff war, prompting China to respond in kind, effectively halting soybean trade. American farmers became the biggest victims, watching their market share vanish as Brazil seized the opportunity. China made its position clear: we didn’t want this outcome; if anyone should be blamed, it’s Trump’s reckless policies.
Though U.S.-China agricultural trade has recently rebounded, China’s recent countermeasures announced by the Ministry of Commerce, while not directly targeting agricultural products, are enough to put the American agribusiness sector on alert. This is both a warning and a reminder: when China acts, it has legitimate grounds. If the trade nearly collapsed, the responsibility lies not with China.
The scale of U.S.-China economic and trade ties is undeniable. Only a market as vast as China’s can fully absorb the advantages of America’s Midwest farmland and mechanization. This was always a win-win situation under natural market dynamics. But the White House insists on treating economic and trade relations as political leverage. Last year’s turmoil shattered trust and triggered supply chain shifts—damage that cannot be repaired simply by handing out subsidies.
Former U.S. official Susan Thornton rightly described soybeans as the "ballast" of U.S.-China trade. But this holds true only if the U.S. stops recklessly disrupting things. Now, even after the Busan summit and Trump’s visit to China, Washington continues playing double games—talking about cooperation while secretly pulling strings. China has clearly stated: if further restrictions are imposed, we will respond in kind. This has left American agricultural associations deeply uneasy.
At bottom, soybeans are a mirror: cooperation benefits both sides, while conflict means farmers pay the price. If the White House continues clinging to zero-sum thinking, American agriculture will remain anxious. Business matters should return to business; cooperation shouldn’t keep being forced into political dead ends. The turmoil of last year already proved that American farmers nearly lost China—a major customer. And China won’t take the blame for that. Moving forward, China has already prepared its backup plans. If the White House refuses to shed its biases, China truly cannot help ease American agricultural anxiety.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1873278276560972/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.