Soybean growers have a strong message for the Trump Administration. One group says they are under extreme financial stress, and tariffs are making it worse.
With China largely absent from the buying table, the American Soybean Association is calling on the White House to ease up on Chinese tariffs.
In a 10-page paper outlining the situation, the group warns that time is running out, and farmers could pay the price. They say tariffs against China have had a limited impact on soybeans so far, but with harvest around the corner, that will soon change. China imports as much as 60 percent of the world’s soybean supply, but the group warns retaliatory tariffs make U.S. beans 20 percent more expensive, driving China to places, like Brazil.
The Soy Transportation Coalition is also weighing in, saying China has been the ideal customer for a number of reaons. They have a large population with growing incomes, they consume large amounts of pork and poultry, and they cook with a large volume of oils. Executive Director Mike Steenhoek says a lot of rural America’s growth over the last 30 years has been because of the Chinese market and the ability for U.S. soybean growers to export there.
The phone call injected optimism into the soybean market, but actual Chinese buying and its timing will ultimately determine the extent of U.S. agricultural export benefits.
February 05, 2026 10:41 AM
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U.S. Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas discusses expected changes to the 45Z tax credit and what they could mean for agriculture and rural America.
February 04, 2026 11:13 AM
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Purdue University Professor of Agricultural Economics Dr. Jim Mintert shares a closer look at farmer sentiment and the key issues shaping the agricultural economy in January.
February 04, 2026 10:53 AM
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China-led demand continues to anchor soybean and sorghum exports despite weekly swings.
February 04, 2026 06:00 AM
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Clearer 45Z rules favor U.S. oilseeds, but final RFS volumes remain critical to locking in demand.
February 03, 2026 12:39 PM
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Economists are also closely watching how policy decisions in Washington could influence markets moving forward. Analysts say deferred futures for corn, soybeans, and wheat suggest markets are operating near break-even levels, not at prices that would encourage expanded production.
February 02, 2026 12:13 PM
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Traders say that shift could eventually prompt the USDA to scale back soybean export projections, noting the outlook differs greatly for other grain commodities.
January 30, 2026 01:13 PM
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Eliza Petry joins the RFD News team with a strong connection to agriculture and a commitment to covering the people and issues that matter most to rural America.
January 29, 2026 01:31 PM
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USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg joined us with a recap of the Malaysia trade mission and a look at USDA’s broader trade strategy moving forward.
January 28, 2026 01:49 PM
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