Sen. Grassley believes port fees on Chinese ships could impose a steep price on U.S. farmers

Soybean growers could take a hit this year if port fees are added to Chinese-built ships, Senator Chuck Grassley warns.

“Right now, our lower shipping costs make Ag products like Iowa corn and soybeans competitive with Brazilian corn and beans. If a maximum fee were put in place, our farmers would lose their edge and cede even more market share to competitors in South America.”

Grassley says he hopes U.S. Trade Rep Jamieson Greer takes farmer concerns seriously as they decide the next steps. Some groups say smaller ports would suffer under the deal, possibly putting the supply chain in jeopardy.

Related Stories
RealAg Radio host Sean Haney outlines the Trump Administration’s current trade priorities and what meaningful market expansion looks like for farmers.
USDA’s February WASDE report, analysts expect minimal price movement as grain stocks remain steady. Traders weigh renewed Chinese soybean purchases, South American weather, acreage shifts, and upcoming USMCA trade talks.
RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey was in Mission, Texas, where state and federal officials addressed growers and producers at a round table event hosted at a citrus grower’s facility. He shows us how welcome news was all around.
Lower freight costs helped sustain export demand amid a challenging pricing environment.
OODIA’s Lewie Pugh discusses the EPA’s new Right to Repair guidance and other regulatory developments impacting the trucking and agriculture industries.
Rebuilding domestic textiles depends on automation and vertical integration, not tariffs or legacy manufacturing models.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland joins us to share his reaction to September’s WASDE and discuss the trade uncertainty between China and his industry.
Bottom line: Despite all the efforts advocates make, workers are still making less money.
Harvested acres are estimated at 90.0 million, making this year’s corn crop one of the largest since the 1930s.
China has been largely absent from U.S. markets lately, but not when it comes to cotton. It’s a buy that, traders say, isn’t surprising given China’s limitations.
The North Carolina Farm Bureau highlights the work being done on Sound Mind Farms, a farm producing hemp to make sustainable fabrics.