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ASA asking not to put additional tariffs on China

The chairman of the American Soybean Association says he’s frustrated by the on-again-off-again trade talks with China as farmers face below breakeven prices.

“I hope the administration has an end goal here, we surely are suffering the consequences on the farm.” 

Southeast Iowa farmer John Heisdorffer tells Brownfield the cost of producing this year’s crop is below current prices and promises for increased Chinese purchases haven’t panned out yet.

“We’ve got this tremendous amount of beans here in the U.S. that we could supply China with but not only are they not buying U.S. soybeans, but African Swine Fever is also making their herds smaller and they’re using less soybean meal.”  

ASA is urging the Trump administration to hold off on additional tariffs and finish negotiations with China.  Heisdorffer believes China would remove retaliatory tariffs on soybeans if the U.S. removes the existing steel and aluminum tariffs.