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.
API said it stands ready to work with Congress to develop a balanced approach to E15 legislation that promotes fuel choice, supports investment certainty, and contributes to a stable and fair marketplace for American consumers.
October 21, 2025 12:39 PM
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Lawmakers are pressing for answers on how Washington’s “managed trade” approach — keeping leverage through long-term tariffs — will affect farmers, global markets, and future export opportunities.
October 21, 2025 12:17 PM
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Beef industry groups seem to agree — market-based pricing, not federal intervention, best supports rancher livelihoods and long-term beef supply stability.
October 21, 2025 11:22 AM
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Cattle groups say additional imports would offer little relief for consumers but could erode rancher confidence as the industry begins to rebuild herds.
October 21, 2025 11:06 AM
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Lyndsey Smith with Real Ag Radio joined RFD-TV to share a Canadian perspective on the discussions.
October 20, 2025 03:30 PM
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Bioethanol is becoming a global standard. For growers, that boom comes as drops in Mississippi River levels and in soybean demand occur in tandem, leaving barge space for corn and wheat.
October 20, 2025 01:32 PM
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The government shutdown has touched nearly every sector of the ag industry since it began, and now impacts are spilling over into dairy.
October 20, 2025 12:46 PM
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With China halting U.S. soybean purchases and talks tied to broader strategic issues, growers face renewed export uncertainty.
October 20, 2025 11:52 AM
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Talks highlight the widening role of agriculture in U.S.–India trade policy, though neither side appears ready for major concessions before tariff issues and oil imports are resolved.
October 20, 2025 11:28 AM
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