WASHINGTON (RFD-TV) — President Donald Trump is now threatening stronger retribution against China over lost soybean sales.
In a post to social media, President Trump described China’s actions on soybeans as an “economically hostile act” and mentioned he is considering halting imports of Chinese cooking oil and other trade items. He says the United States could easily produce its own cooking oil, negating the need to purchase it from China.
However, data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) shows China is not a major supplier of U.S. cooking oil supplies. In 2022, 96 percent of canola imports came from Canada, 82 percent of palm oil supplies arrived from Indonesia, while 78 percent of America’s olive oil supply came from the European Union.
On the other hand, imports of used cooking oil have been an issue. Those products are mostly used for biofuel production. USDA Foreign Ag Service (FAS) data shows that in 2024, China exported a record amount of used cooking oil, with the U.S. being its top export market. Last year, totals were more than 50 percent higher than in 2023.
In April of this year, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that the USDA was cracking down on imports of used cooking oil.
Rollins warned imports are displacing homegrown biofuels in the ag economy, saying they remain a strong opportunity for American producers. She said the department was working on ways to keep American refineries full of American feedstocks.
Market analyst and friend of the show, Shawn Hackett, says Brazil’s shifting use of crops for biofuel production is a significant factor.
October 31, 2025 01:17 PM
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Caleb Ragland, president of the American Soybean Association (ASA), shares his reaction to news of soybean sales to China, which is considered both “welcome news” and a return to near-normal trade relations.
October 31, 2025 12:26 PM
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Rabobank’s outlook signals a tightening margin environment, emphasizing the need for cost control, trade stability, and clearer policy signals heading into 2026.
October 31, 2025 11:44 AM
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Farm Bureau Economist Faith Parum discusses key outcomes from the U.S.-China trade agreement and the benefits of expanding trade across Southeast Asia.
October 30, 2025 03:25 PM
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Chris Bliley with Growth Energy discusses ongoing concerns about U.S. ethanol exports and the expansion of market access promised under the Phase One deal between the U.S. and China.
October 30, 2025 02:30 PM
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“It does not extinguish right away here — in any sort of sense — the real profitability concerns and people’s ability to pay bills and get to the other side of this in the very short term. This is where the skepticism builds.”
October 30, 2025 02:20 PM
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U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) shares his perspective on the U.S.-China trade developments and their potential impact on American producers, farmers, and ranchers.
October 30, 2025 12:56 PM
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Rich Nelson, a commodity broker for Allendale Inc., joins us to break down what the U.S.-China trade agreement means for the ag economy.
October 30, 2025 12:04 PM
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With core input inflation still hovering high, growers and retailers should plan pricing and promotions with tighter margins in mind — target early sales, leverage bundle deals, and secure logistics ahead of peak Halloween demand.
October 30, 2025 10:54 AM
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