U.S. Farmers Continue to Lose Ground in China Market

American farmers are being bludgeoned by the high tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on US trading partners, Marty Schladen reported for the Ohio Capital Journal.

China moved to “de-risk” its agricultural supply by strengthening ties with South America. (Photo: U.S. Wheat Associates)

China—the United States’ third-largest trading partner—halted purchases of American soybeans in May before resuming them last month. The stoppage was in retaliation for Trump’s tariffs, which now stand at 20%, according to a tariff tracker.

“Over the past decade, the flow of American agricultural goods to China has shifted from reliable seasonality to stark volatility,” a trade report said.

From 2014 to 2017, exports followed a predictable rhythm, peaking each fall with the soybean harvest. That pattern broke with the 2018 trade war, then rebounded in 2020 and 2021 following the Phase One trade agreement.

With Chinese purchasing commitments in place, monthly exports reached record highs in late 2020 and remained elevated through 2022, fueling optimism that the relationship had stabilized.

In 2023, however, Brazil posted record soybean and corn harvests, undercutting prices sought by US farmers. China moved to “de-risk” its agricultural supply by strengthening ties with South America.

“By 2025, these forces—combined with a renewed trade war—converged into a full collapse,” the report said.