Trade tensions cut US farm exports to record low
China has effectively stopped purchasing soybeans from the United States between June and August 2025, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. The move follows renewed tariff tensions under President Donald Trump, leading to one of the steepest drops in agricultural exports in recent years.
U.S. soybean exports to China plunged by 80 percent, falling from 26.5 million tons in 2024 to just 5.8 million tons in 2025—the lowest since 2018. During the summer, China did not purchase a single shipment or sign new contracts for the upcoming season.
In contrast, Brazil shipped over 77 million tons of soybeans to China during the same period, solidifying its role as Beijing’s primary supplier. Argentina also benefited after temporarily lifting export taxes, boosting grain sales above $7 billion.
For American farmers, the loss of the Chinese market represents a major economic setback. Exports of corn, wheat, and sorghum to China dropped to zero in 2025, while pork and cotton sales remain historically low. The USDA projects that total U.S. agricultural exports to China will fall to $17 billion this year, 30 percent less than in 2024.
President Trump announced plans for a new aid package modeled after the 2019 farm support program, stating, “We will use tariff revenues to support our farmers.” Meanwhile, low river levels, higher shipping costs, and declining commodity prices continue to pressure farm income, expected to fall 2.5 percent to its lowest level since 2007.
China’s decision underscores a long-term effort to diversify food supplies and reduce dependence on U.S. products through stronger agricultural partnerships with Brazil and Argentina.
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