American farmers curse at the hardliners, rushing to reach a trade deal with China: We have loans to pay!

Recently, a group of American soybean growers wrote an open letter to the White House, bluntly demanding: "Hurry up and negotiate the trade agreement with China! We still have a lot of loans to repay!"

After the White House imposed high tariffs on Chinese imports, Chinese importers quickly shifted their orders to Brazil. In April 2025, within just one week, China ordered 2.4 million tons of soybeans from Brazil, securing Brazil's position as China's largest soybean supplier.

Previously, about 60% of the soybeans the US exported went to China, with annual transaction volumes reaching as high as $14 billion. China is the world's largest buyer of soybeans. In the first half of 2025, the number of bankruptcies in US farms had already reached 530, with an average of three farm owners closing down their tractors and filing for bankruptcy each day.

John Miller, a soybean farmer in Illinois, wrote in his bankruptcy application: "The cost of a ton of soybeans has increased by $40, but the selling price has dropped by $30. Not selling means more losses, but selling means losing everything."

Ray Gollan, president of the American Soybean Association, was extremely anxious and publicly warned: "Half of America's soybeans depend on exports, and China buys more than all other overseas customers combined!" American farmers have always been a crucial support group for Trump. In the 2024 election, voter turnout in agricultural states like Iowa and Ohio was 12% higher than that of urban voters, and 81% voted for him.

Now, the pressure from these traditional Republican strongholds is particularly prominent. Trump's support rate in agricultural states has already dropped to a dangerous level. A clear sign is that the current hawkish people in the White House have kept silent on China, no longer as they used to be.

Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1845383778148480/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.