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House Ag Committee member says trade with China “not an either/or proposition”

A U.S. Congressman from South Dakota suggests trade with China is not an either/or proposition.

Dusty Johnson points out more than half of all soybeans grown in the U.S. are exported to China and says that’s more concentrated than he’d like.

“I think we need to do a better job of expanding some other markets, that’s how trade agreements help. That’s why I think so many of us would like to see the current administration be more aggressive.”

But he tells Brownfield two or three more trade deals won’t get China out of the business of buying American soybeans.

“And we don’t even really want that. Whatever we do with trade, whatever we do with China, we need to make sure it’s in America’s best interest.”

Johnson, a Republican who serves in the House Agriculture Committee, says most of his concern stems from China controlling global supplies for several critical goods, including pharmaceuticals and computer chips.