As China’s tariff on US soybeans continues to take its toll, growers look for help from Congress

03.08.2018 08:30 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — Returning to Washington just weeks after their July Board of Directors meeting, grower leaders from the American Soybean Association (ASA) met again with officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Members of Congress to consider options for offsetting the long-term damage from China’s retaliatory tariff on American soybeans.

John Heisdorffer, a soy grower from Keota, Iowa, and President of ASA said, “We know that President Trump is aware of how hard this is hitting agriculture and specifically soybeans. The recent announcement that the European Union has agreed to buy more U.S. soybeans is a welcome step. Given the scale of potential damage from the tariff, we need more market-opening measures if we are going to survive the long-term repercussions on soybean exports.”

“We are asking, first, that Congress pass a new long-term farm bill that increases funding for export promotion under MAP and FMD. The Trade Promotion Program announced by USDA last month will supplement these much-needed efforts, and we hope to see this funding extended over a multi-year period so that activities can be coordinated with the Congressionally-mandated programs.”

In addition to asking Congress to pass the Farm Bill, ASA grower leaders urged the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee to support negotiation of new free trade agreements. ASA is asking that NAFTA be in place by the end of 2018, and that bilateral FTAs be initiated with Japan and other countries that offer increased markets for soy and livestock products. ASA also asked lawmakers to support funding to upgrade inland waterways infrastructure in order to maintain the U.S. competitive advantage.

“We need these tools,” said Heisdorffer. “The certainty and stability of our industry depends on, number one, getting these tariffs removed as quickly as possible and, number two, taking steps now to offset the damage done by this trade war by negotiating trade agreements and funding programs essential to opening new markets for our farm products.”

China imported 31% of U.S. production in 2017, equal to 60% of total U.S exports and nearly 1 in every 3 rows of harvested beans, which makes expanding existing and finding new markets crucial for the U.S. soybean industry.

12.02.2025
	10:01	China Corn Imports Fall on Weaker Domestic Demand
	09:06	China’s Imported Oilseed Meal Supplies Shift Slightly to Mid-Protein Meals
08.02.2025
	18:20	Cereal stocks set to decline in 2024/25 due to anticipated reductions in wheat and maize inventories
	18:00	FAO Food Price index declined in January 2025, mostly due to lower sugar, vegetable oil and meat prices
06.02.2025
	16:28	Ukraine considers SCZone site for food hub in Egypt – ministry
	16:16	Since the beginning of 2025, 549 agricultural enterprises have received UAH 2.3 billion under the Affordable Loans at 5-7-9 programme published
03.02.2025
	23:55	Ukraine's Ministry of Agrarian policy allocates sugar export quotas to EU
31.01.2025
	17:20	Global orange production for 2024/25 is forecast down 662,000 tons to 45.2 MT
	17:15	Argentina Lemon/Lime Exports Continue to Decline
24.01.2025
	16:38	Ukraine’s agricultural sector earned $24.5 bln in 2024, setting second historical record
23.01.2025
	15:46	Eurobarometer survey shows strong support for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
22.01.2025
	20:54	Since the beginning of 2025, 117 agricultural enterprises have received UAH 318.7 million under the Affordable Loans at 5-7-9 programme
	20:43	Ukrainian agricultural land needs to be cleared and returned to circulation as soon as possible
21.01.2025
	21:45	A groundbreaking new study, “Governance and resilience as entry points for transforming food systems in the countdown to 2030”. Key Findings
	21:37	Nitrogen use efficiency must be improved to reduce harm to human and environmental health
11.01.2025
	11:16	Russia Grain Export Quota to Curb Wheat Exports in 2025
	09:12	Iraq Emerges as a Soybean Importer
08.01.2025
	22:13	FAO Food Price Index dips during the month of December
	18:49	FAO calls for urgent action to address widening famine in Sudan
22.12.2024
	05:26	FAO transfers 185 generators, 6,474 grain hoses to Ukrainian farmers in 2024
	03:53	The EU agri-food trade surplus increased by 15% in September 2024, reaching EUR 6 billion
19.12.2024
	09:05	World coffee production for 2024/25 is forecast 6.9 million bags higher
18.12.2024
	23:11	China’s Expanding Coffee Consumption
17.12.2024
	22:37	Bangladesh Soybean Import Recovery Expected to Continue
14.12.2024
	21:03	World apple production for 2024/25 is forecast to fall nearly 350,000 tons to 84.0 million
13.12.2024
	09:11	U.S. Fresh Pear Exports Fall on Historically Low Harvest
10.12.2024
	21:03	Indonesia Grain Imports to Subside after 2023/24 Record
	08:14	Higher vegetable oil quotations drive up FAO Food Price Index, but lower cereal and sugar prices temper the rise
	07:45	Cereal trade revised downwards amid weaker demand
02.12.2024
	23:17	Prime Minister: Some 50 partner countries have joined the humanitarian demining coalition
	22:56	Norway pledges additional $4.5 mln to Ukraine's Grain from Ukraine initiative
01.12.2024
	03:30	EU agri-food trade slowed down in August 2024
26.11.2024
	00:06	Global sugar production, compared to last year, is estimated up 2.8 million tons to 186.6 million
24.11.2024
	04:43	During the Operation of Our Grain From Ukraine Program, We Have Managed to Save 20 Million People from Hunger – Zelenskyy
	04:15	Ukraine Is Ready to Share Technologies, Military Experiences and Processing Methods with African Countries – the President
22.11.2024
	10:15	South Africa Sugar Production and Exports Estimated Down
19.11.2024
	23:04	Global Olive Oil Production Forecast to Rebound in 2024/25
	22:47	Vitalii Koval discusses Ukraine's European integration with European colleagues
	16:06	EBRD, European Union and United States help Kyiv prepare for winter
18.11.2024
	09:21	Agriculture Development Strategy 2030 – a roadmap to the EU
	09:19	Ukrainian farmers have sown 96% of projected winter crop area
01.11.2024
	20:31	Ukraine has officially joined the International Fund for Agricultural Development
	20:29	Ukrainian farmers harvested 63.7 million tonnes of grains and oilseeds
25.10.2024
	22:50	Agriculture hit hard: October port strikes rack up 30-40 million dollars in losses
	21:04	Ministry of Agrarian Policy expects exports to rise in dollar terms
	10:57	Ukrainian corn seed flows to Europe in further farm trade shift
24.10.2024
	23:02	Tree Nut Import Markets Highly Concentrated
23.10.2024
	11:18	Prime Minister UK warns Russian threat to global stability is accelerating as Putin ramps up attacks on Black Sea
15.10.2024
	09:35	Brazil Continues to Dominate Growth in Global Chicken Meat Exports in 2025
11.10.2024
	23:33	China Cottonseed Imports Show Strong Demand in Recent Years