China halts US soybean imports to hit Trump’s MAGA supporters

China has stopped buying soybeans from the United States in recent months, a move widely viewed as a strategic attempt to pressure the Trump administration amid escalating trade tensions between the two nations.

The suspension marks a steep decline in agricultural trade relations between Washington and Beijing, shaking confidence across America’s farming heartland. The halt comes just as both countries prepare for a possible meeting later this month between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping — though no date has yet been confirmed.

“The soybean farmers of our country are being hurt because China is, for negotiating reasons only, not buying,” Trump wrote on social media on October 1. “We’ve made so much money on tariffs that we are going to take a small portion of that and help our farmers.”

For decades, soybeans have been central to U.S.-China agricultural cooperation. When China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, it removed import quotas and introduced a flat 3% tariff, triggering a surge in U.S. soybean imports.

According to China Customs, China imported 32.58 million tons of U.S. soybeans in 2017. That number was cut nearly in half to 16.64 million tons in 2018 during Trump’s trade war. Imports stabilized around 20 million tons annually until the pandemic in 2022 disrupted supply chains and encouraged China to diversify purchases toward Brazil and Argentina.

In 2024, the U.S. exported 985 million bushels of soybeans to China, representing 51% of total U.S. soybean exports. This year, from January to August 2025, exports plunged to just 218 million bushels, with none shipped in June, July, or August.

Brazil, now the world’s largest soybean producer, is expected to harvest 169 million metric tons in the 2024/25 crop year — roughly 40% of global supply. The U.S. follows with 119 million tons, or 28%, meaning both nations together produce more than two-thirds of the world’s soybeans.

In a commentary on Guancha.cn, a columnist writing under the pseudonym “Old Farmer” described the trade freeze as symbolic of America’s internal political conflict. “American soybean farmers have become the sacrificial victims of their own domestic political struggle,” he wrote. “The so-called tariff war carries little economic logic but immense political weight, revealing the deep ideological divisions within the U.S.”

He argued that America, having long profited from issuing its own currency and importing inexpensive goods, should be the last nation to turn inward. “These imports help maintain its welfare system, calm social tensions, and mask the fractured state of its politics,” he wrote.

The columnist added that U.S. society’s growing polarization reflects the failure of globalized corporations to improve citizens’ living standards. Still, he noted, the pain felt by farmers is unlikely to weaken Trump’s political base, as it is seen as part of the cost of achieving his “Make America Great Again” agenda.

“Soybean farmers are concentrated in states like Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota — all MAGA strongholds,” said Wang Chong, director of the Center for American Studies at Zhejiang International Studies University. “There’s no doubt China’s halt has deeply impacted their livelihoods. Many farmers and distributors have voiced strong frustration toward the White House.”

Wang suggested Beijing could use soybeans as leverage in future trade negotiations, seeking U.S. concessions on chip export restrictions or access for Chinese electric vehicles and high-tech goods.

On April 2, Trump unveiled plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on all countries, warning that retaliation would lead to even harsher measures. As tensions rose, Washington slapped tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports, prompting Beijing to hit back with 125% tariffs on American goods.

Though both sides reached a partial truce on May 12, Chinese exports to the U.S. still face tariffs between 30% and 50%, while U.S. exporters pay just 10% to sell to China. Talks later shifted to other sensitive areas, including rare earth minerals and semiconductors.

The current truce expires November 10 unless progress is made. Since May, China has ordered importers to stop buying U.S. soybeans altogether.

“Tariff wars serve no one’s interest,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on September 23. “The two sides must resolve differences through consultation based on equality and mutual respect.”

A Zhejiang-based commentator writing as “Linglingniang” agreed, saying the U.S. must drop its tariffs and restrictions before expecting China to resume purchases. “Return trade to normal first, then talk soybeans,” he said. “Trump is running out of time — China’s orders are set through November. Wait any longer, and America’s harvest could rot in storage.”

In the Northern Hemisphere, soybeans are planted between May and July and harvested from September to November. According to Iowa State University, soybeans can be stored safely for up to a year at 13% moisture — and even longer at 12% or below.

That longevity could cushion the immediate blow of China’s import freeze. With proper storage, U.S. farmers can hold crops for years, sell to other markets, or rely on federal support programs to offset losses.

Under mounting political pressure from rural states, the Trump administration is preparing a $10 billion bailout package to assist affected farmers, funded partly through tariff revenues and U.S. Department of Agriculture reserves.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Beijing’s decision, saying it was “unfortunate that China’s leadership is using American soybean farmers as hostages in trade talks.”

Overall, the freeze has contributed to a 16.8% decline in total U.S. exports to China between June and August 2025 compared to the same period last year — a stark contrast to the 7.4% drop seen earlier this year.