Trump to Press Xi on Soybean Trade Amid Farmer Frustration Ahead of APEC Summit:

October 2, 2025 — Former President Donald Trump has announced plans to prioritize soybean trade during his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as American farmers continue to face major setbacks from ongoing trade tensions with China. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday, Trump acknowledged the mounting frustration among U.S. soybean farmers, who have been caught in the crossfire of the U.S.-China trade war. "The Soybean Farmers of our Country are being hurt because China is, for 'negotiating' reasons only, not buying," Trump wrote. "I'll be meeting with President Xi, of China, in four weeks, and Soybeans will be a major topic of discussion." The meeting is expected to take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea later this month. Trump also mentioned plans to travel to China in 2026. Soybean Trade at the Center of Trade War Fallout The U.S. and China have seen a rocky trade relationship in recent years, with both countries imposing tit-for-tat tariffs that escalated into a full-blown trade war. While some tensions have eased, the damage to U.S. agriculture — especially the soybean sector — has been long-lasting. Soybeans were once a cornerstone of U.S. agricultural exports to China, which remains the world’s largest soybean buyer. However, due to retaliatory tariffs imposed by Beijing — including a 20% tariff on U.S. soybeans — American farmers have seen their access to the Chinese market vanish. As a result, countries like Brazil and Argentina have stepped in to fill the void, capturing market share at the expense of U.S. producers. "The U.S. has made zero sales to China in this new crop marketing year due to 20-percent retaliatory tariffs imposed by China," said Caleb Ragland, President of the American Soybean Association (ASA), last week. "This has allowed other exporters, Brazil and now Argentina, to capture our market at the direct expense of U.S. farmers." Farmers Call for Urgent Action The ASA has been vocal in urging Trump to make soybean exports a top priority in his upcoming discussions with Xi. In a statement released in August, the group warned that ongoing trade barriers are "shutting American farmers out of their largest export market going into the 2025 soybean harvest." The issue has become increasingly urgent as American farmers face declining export opportunities, shrinking profit margins, and heightened uncertainty. "The frustration is overwhelming," Ragland added. Trump’s Pledge of Support Trump reiterated his plan to support farmers by using tariff revenues to provide financial aid, similar to measures taken during his first term. Between mid-2018 and late-2019, U.S. agricultural exports suffered losses exceeding $27 billion due to Chinese retaliatory tariffs. He also criticized President Joe Biden for not enforcing earlier trade agreements with Beijing that had included commitments to increase farm product purchases. As the APEC summit approaches, all eyes will be on whether Trump can secure a deal that brings relief to American farmers — and restores a vital export market that once generated billions in revenue for the U.S. agricultural sector.

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