China Stops Buying US Agricultural Products Entirely

[Stonepounder]

https://modernfarmer.com/2019/08/china-stops-buying-us-agricultural-products-entirely/

Modern Farmer

By Dan Nosowitz ON AUGUST 7, 2019

On Tuesday, the Chinese Commerce Ministry announced that China will no longer be buying American agricultural products, a decision with huge, wide-ranging implications. Zippy Duvall, president of the normally conservative-leaning American Farm Bureau, called the decision a “body blow” to American agriculture.

The Chinese decision is a response to two moves from Donald Trump and his administration. The first was a surprise announcement, made by Trump, that the US would begin instituting a 10 percent tariff on about $300 billion worth of Chinese goods. This came following a series of trade negotiations that press officers in the Trump administration described as “productive,” but Trump tweeted that China had reneged on promises to purchase certain American agricultural products (without specifying what those might have been).

Then, on Monday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin formally labeled China as a currency manipulator due to a drop in the value of the yuan. The move is largely symbolic, but also nearly unprecedented, and seen as mostly an open-handed slap in the face to China.

In response, it appears, came the Chinese government’s tactic to halt the purchase of American agricultural goods. China’s targeting of American agriculture has the benefit, in China’s perspective, of being both a large and a political attack. China imports billions of dollars of American agriculture, being the largest importer of American soybeans and a top-three importer of American pork; overall, China is the fourth-largest importer of American agricultural goods. But attacking American agriculture also serves as a de facto attack on Trump, who is perceived to draw support from rural America. This will be yet another insanely heavy burden on American farmers, who have dealt with fallout from the trade war for over a year, in addition to swine flu, floods, droughts, and heat waves.

[BigmanPigman]

1. Will farmers be satisfied with farm subsidies?

Bannon and the fucking moron both have said that the farmers will understand that it is going to be a little rough at first but in the near future they will benefit from the tariffs.

[Horse with no Name]

26. as a taxpayer

I am not okay with the farm subsidies.

[Auggie]

32. Small farms okay. Corporate farms, not okay.

[mathematic]

55. As if small farmers aren't racist shitheads too?

Why do so many people give unaccountable small businesses a pass? These are your everyday right populists that are rarely subjected to scrutiny.

And if I had to guess, I'd guess that large corporate farms, like all large corporations, are more open to immigration.

[Auggie]

57. I happen to know several small operation farmers

And I REALLY find it appalling you automatically assume they’re all racists JUST BECAUSE THEY FARM.

[mathematic]

60. Oh, so you want to bail out your friends AND you're appalled?

I'm not assuming anything. Farmers of all sizes vote for republicans and are dedicated trumpists. Sure you can find farmers that aren't trumpists but farmers disproportionately support donald trump. By the way, you didn't say bail out "except for small farmers that aren't racist trump supporting shitheads", you said "small farmers". Trump had a 79% approval rate according to a poll of farmers and ranchers conducted in july. We KNOW that support isn't due to pocketbook issues, since trump is causing so much economic loss for farmers. So what's left that they could agree on? Oh yeah, the white nationalism thing.

Maybe you should confront your small operation farmer buddies about their racial politics, not just their hate of big business, and report back.

ETA: Here's a link to that poll https://www.agweb.com/article/trump-approval-among-farmers-rises-to-79

[murielm99]

74. Yes. Same here.

Especially since WE FARM.

Most of the people who come in here and gripe about farm subsidies do not know what they are talking about.

[Kali]

76. thank you

there aren't many of us out there and we need the support to help our dumbass republican neighbors to see the error of their ways and start voting Democratic again. calling everybody in ag names and lumping everybody in one pile is not helpful.

[Hekate]

62. You are way off base with your disgusting comments. nt

[mathematic]

63. 79% farmer support for trump, I'm not off base

You're going to try to tell me that they're only polling big farmers even though most farmers are small farmers?

https://www.agweb.com/article/trump-approval-among-farmers-rises-to-79

53% of farmers strongly approve of trump. In a poll of the general public trump is in the low 20s for strongly approve. The context of this discussion is about how we should be alleviating the economic harm trump is doing to farmers. So if massive economic harm is being done to farms and they still so overwhelmingly support him, it sure ain't due to his economic policies.

Fine, you know some of the 21% of farmers that don't approve of trump. Great. I know hispanic trump supporters, which is in the 20%s too. Neither are representative.

[Jakes Progress]

66. I know a guy who likes math.

He is a trump fan. So, by your own logic, anyone who does math or likes math or chooses a name using the word math must be a trump loving shithead. Mind you, I don't feel that way. I'm just saying the "logic" you use to label people would demand that you feel that way.

Mindless name calling and knee jerk attacks are the way to lose an election. There are a number of farmers that post on DU. You just called fellow DU members shitheads. That's a pretty broad brush you sling there.

[obamanut2012]

58. No, they shouldn't be subsidized either

It is over and over and over. If their farm is not viable, they need to change their life. I ahve two uncles who had to do this with "regular" farming and dairy farming.

[olegramps]

78. If we protect famer's profits, how about thousands of small businesses that wil be affected.

The Republicans are just buying votes and preventing a revolt in the party at our expense. The rural folks voted him in. Let them suffer the consequences. I guess they will have more time to go down to the local bar and sit around bashing Democrats. I say no damn way.

[Duppers]

37. Same here!

Where's the f'n TEA PARTY now??!!

This will be the largest increase in this country's deficit EVER.

Nancy, make the insanity stop! Day by day, week by week, this narcissistic dullard is harming this country & the world.

[Duppers]

39. Btw, will this imbecile ever be tried and jailed?

After he's voted out of office?

But that's a whole 'nother thread.

[TeamPooka]

35. can they eat that "winning feeling" Trump gives them? They'll need to.

[erronis]

44. It's part of the plan to demolish small farms - the Agri Enterprises

It doesn't take long to put a smaller operation out of business. Two to three years of drastically reduced income will kill their loan repayments.

Then the big agri companies swoop in and by the land and operation pennies on the dollar.

This is all a scripted/orchestrated raid across the land and across the industries.

[Phoenix61]

52. Sadly, I think you are right.

I don’t think Twitler is doing this intentionally. He’s just a useful tool for too many.

[CrispyQ]

54. I think you're right, but destroying the markets for their product seems short sighted.

It took years to build those markets. You don't just win them back in a season or two.

[Midnight Writer]

81. Exactly. Another transfer of wealth from the working folk to the filthy rich.

[mercuryblues]

2. Not only that. China refuses to take trump's calls

[Sherman A1]

3. Ruh Roh.....

This is not a good thing!

[Kurt V.]

4. china is battling African swine disease. killing off hogs wholesale. not sure how not buying

American pork is possible but certainly explains no need for soybeans

[cstanleytech]

34. Meh, I think I might prefer the African swine vs the one currently in the White House.

[erronis]

79. Me too. Hey there, Donald Pig.

[Farmer-Rick]

49. Maybe Russia will up their production to supply China

The EU is the largest producer. Maybe they are also increasing their production.

Brazil, Vietnam and Canada also produce large amounts. It's just a matter of China making it worth their while to increase production. It's not rocket science.

[joost5]

83. Bingo.

I would wager that Putin had a hand in convincing Drumph that tariffs on China were a good idea.

Here's one example article how Russia is loving it: China Turns to Russia in Search to Replace U.S. Soybeans

Another here: Russia dramatically increases grain exports; China big buyer

Putin got a good return on his investment.

[LanternWaste]

56. I'd guess Beijing would simply make the purchases from

the EU... a larger pork producer than the US.

[Kurt V.]

67. i think I'm mistaken. i don't read where china is not buying us pork, but other ag products

[struggle4progress]

5. "Farms on the auction block represent a great real estate opportunity!"

[Wellstone ruled]

6. 30 billion Tax increase for our Nation.

Way to go GOP and Donnie of little Smarts! So that must mean the last of the Soybean order that was in the fill to ship stage is now canceled. No wonder Bunge Grain is on the verge of a Bankruptcy.

[SWBTATTReg]

71. Socialism at its best! Farmers should be happy! NT

[Wellstone ruled]

72. Talked to one we have

known for more than two decades,yesterday. And yes,he thinks Trump will shake things up and make China buy his Corn and Beans. He and his brother are facing a lousy fall Harvest at best. And I know he has a major ASCS loan payment coming up in December and they are already in a cash crunch besides having to buy feed for their cattle next February and beyond due to this years lousy growing season. Best guess is,there are others in his area who are in the same financial straights.

Oh and that first round of Buy your vote money doled out,well that made their Property Tax payment. But,the president will change that he says. Know damn well he and his brother are loading up their Credit Cards to meet repair bills and other expenses. The hidden thing is,don't get sick or injured because their Insurance coverage has mega deductibles and if this would happen,just afraid how that will end.

[SWBTATTReg]

75. The sad thing is these people will continue to allow rump's idiotic tactics to still happen, ...

all while they are slowly going bankrupt and/or to a place where they will never recover from, and guess who they will blame? Certainly not rump.

In the 'real world' however, smarter heads will prevail, and bankers already don't listen to rump and his cronies, and the nonsense they constantly spew out. It simply doesn't pay bills.

Farmers and ranchers will soon find the doors slammed shut for financing options (if not already)...just a matter of time with the uncertain markets (and in the meantime, storage fees keep piling up, crops are probably going to go un-harvested or dumped onto the ground (no where to store it), etc.). Businesses and such that rely on farmers and ranchers probably already are finding it hard to make it, since support payments don't go to them too.

It's really a shame, a whole generation wiped out, in a feeble and desperate attempt to appear relevant (voting block wise) but I guess it takes something like this to actually persuade these people how wrong they are.

[Wellstone ruled]

80. Only seeing the outter edge of this mess.

Her is a kicker that might cause this fellow and his brother to see their day reckoning . The farm is in their mothers name and she is in her mid to late seventies. And my understanding is,if she should pass,the two brothers would have to do a buy out of the Estate which their are five children total. Right now the two brothers are doing a deferred rent arrangement with their mother and her Estate. In other words,free rent to be settled up at a later date.

And yes,have to say,most of our Farmer Acquaintances have bought into the Trump Stupid and refuse to see the real time reality player right in front of them. As someone who traveled the Rural areas of the upper Midwest for Business for about five decades,saw this shift to ultra Conservation starting in the late Sixties as the Vietnam War emptied out many a Rural Town via the Draft. And when these fellows mustered out,well,they went to the major metros for employment rather than busting their butts trying to make a Rural living. That seemed to be the start of the demise of the FDR culture in most rural areas and the remaining folks became scared and joined the ranks of Nixonite's. Them City folk are a looking down on us cause we are country folk. When that distrust of City Dwellers was promoted as a dollar and cents issue by the Rethugs,well that distrust became a rally point for most Rural Rethugs seeking office. And Nixon played that card to the hilt as well as most Farm State Rethug politicians.

And yes,it might take a massive collapse of the Farm Community to finally be the change agent and the awakening as to who works for you and your family rather than the Guy at your at the Farm Bureau Office that has been picking their pockets for decades in order to donate to Rethug Causes.

[SWBTATTReg]

91. Well said. ...

What gets me about all of this angst between 'cities' and 'farmers/ranchers', is that 'city folks' are farmers' and/or ranchers' biggest customers. Perhaps one day both will reconcile w/ each other.

[Wellstone ruled]

92. These statements that are thrown

about Rural Americans not liking City Folks was well Crafted by the Rethugs and their Focus Groups to drive a wedge between Urban and Rural folks to win elections. And the Churches were enlisted in pulling this off with their campaign of the Moral Majority campaign and the rest is history.

[keithbvadu2]

7. The Trump economy

[iluvtennis]

33. How true. Thanks for the post. nt

[gratuitous]

8. Well that was easy

Winning!

[MissB]

9. Well NW farmers don't really need to worry about getting goods around the broken Bonneville locks

Ugh. It’s amazing how thoroughly this administration has destroyed so many livelihoods.

[Botany]

10. Donald Trump: You gonna win so much you may even get tired of winning

Forbs Aug 30, 2019, 11:28am
Amid Trump Tariffs, Farm Bankruptcies And Suicides Rise

https://www.forbes.com/sites/chuckjones/2019/08/30/amid-trump-tariffs-farm-bankruptcies-and-suicides-rise/#4065b3682bc8

[3Hotdogs]

27. You spelled it wrong. It's whining.

[TheBlackAdder]

11. Trump just screwed the pooch.

[smirkymonkey]

12. Nice work, President Dipshit.

[Newest Reality]

13. When you mess with China

you really need strategy and wisdom, not haughty reckless, feckless postures. I see that this is not only a no-win for the US, but it is going to worsen and give China more leverage.

Well, farmers, take one for the gipper there, I am sure we all will be feeling the blows against the empire, but Trump and his mob will be fine.

Oh, and why not vote for him again, just for good luck?

[keithbvadu2]

36. ... When you mess with China

[spanone]

14. MAR 2, 2018 - 10:32 AM EST...

IGNORANT FUCK

Trump doubles down: ‘Trade wars are good, and easy to win’

Link to tweet

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/02/trump-trade-wars-are-good-and-easy-to-win.html

[Cartoonist]

15. So who is Zippy mad at?

Zippy Duvall, president of the normally conservative-leaning American Farm Bureau, called the decision a “body blow” to American agriculture.
_

Is he mad at China for their response to Trump's trade war, or is he mad at Trump for being an idiot?

[Hoyt]

16. This is what America First, Economic Patriotism, treating foreign workers like scabs, protectionism,

anti-trade, etc., gets us. I hope all "populist" politicians take notice.

[moondust]

17. Branstad? You there, Terry?

Former Iowa Republican governor did quite a bit to develop the Chinese market for soybeans, hosting Xi a couple times on visits to Iowa farms. Now he's tRump's ambassador to China because of his acquaintance with Xi.

Now what, Terry? Resign in disgrace?

[Newest Reality]

18. Read the first comment...

for that article and the replies. It looks like this is going to cause a more permanent shift and there may be no turning back, so farmers are going to feel this indefinitely, it may have been more fragile than imagined.

It looks like they are going to have to change their strategies and the types of crops they grow and that may be difficult and costly. This is yuge!

This is just anecdotal, but perhaps more needs to be known:

We can thank the Orange Beast, of course. Most importantly for his lack of knowledge, understanding and any strategy put into this before rushing into it as if it were simple and easy. DOH! First check if there are other venues that might ultimately better as alternatives, etc. This is going to hurt big time for a long time, because of that and instead of a win, it looks more like a need for a potential surrender.

As an investor in Australian agribusiness company Wesfarmers, I owe those who voted for your President a deep debt of gratitude.

Australian soybean farmers have been trying to crack the Chinese market for decades. However, the highly conservative Chinese buyers were willing to accept the slightly higher prices and slightly lower quality in terms of pesticide content US product in return for a stable, safe source of supply for the highest quality soybeans used in making soy sauce.

Brazil and Russia outproduced us in the much larger lower quality soy used as feedstock, with lower costs, but it was the US who were our main competitors in the premium quality area.

[Cheviteau]

68. Australian Farmers' produce

Australia produces higher quality and healthier grains (soy, corn, milo,etc.) which in turn makes for better meat products. (beef, pork, poultry, etc.) The farmers there are in an excellent position to satisfy China's needs. Depending on what happens with climate change, those markets will never return to our farmers. Canada, Australia, Argentina, and Brazile will feed Euroasia. Our farmers will be left picking shit with the chicken, finding a scrap here and there for customers. How the US farmers didn't see this coming is beyond me. Trump promised all during his campaign that he would start trade wars with our trading partners. Even unheard of Irland is filling the gap with hog production. Donald Trump, either through ignorance or meanness, has royally screwed our proud farmers.

[world wide wally]

19. So, Trumps "bully act" didn't work exactly how he planned it.

Ironicly, Nixon is probably spinning in her s grave. His famous heart deal with China just went down the drain.

[sharedvalues]

20. Trumptraitor

Destroying our country to enrich himself and for political advantage. And Republicans are complicit.

[Mr.Bill]

21. What's that saying?

The customer is always right?

[lunasun]

22. Why is my tax $$ being used as a bribe to encourage a large part of this industry to vote trump 2020

A lot of farmers helped put him in the WH so they get bailed out
And there is no worry if they vote trump again and never see another order because he will give them more tax $$ next year

I would not buy from here if China . Why? Besides the tariffs, too many
of these people are potentially capable of deplorable actions against others not like them.
Yes, they would be truly biting the hand that feeds them , but tainting products sent overseas later could be perceived as patriotic to these creeps settling a grudge after the hold back on orders
They may not come back with orders even if trump is removed

And in all this are honest farmers who did not want trump , tariffs , the bribe money and appreciated foreign nations buying from them and buying products made overseas

[raccoon]

23. Thanks, Dotard. Nt

[muntrv]

24. In related news, factory farmers will start buying family farms for pennies on the dollar.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

31. just like they did during Rotten Ronnie's recession

[geardaddy]

64. It started with Earl Butz under Nixon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Butz#Secretary_of_Agriculture

[Hermit-The-Prog]

84. thanks!

I had forgotten about Butz.

[geardaddy]

94. You're welcome!

I remember some documentary where they talked about him. I can't remember the name. Was it Food, Inc? maybe?

[yaesu]

25. oh, cant wait to see the orange nazis response on twitter like he even has a hand to play

his deck is full of jokers

[czarjak]

28. "I alone can body blow American agriculture"...

Suckers.

[SunSeeker]

29. Brazil has snapped up those markets. They ain't coming back. nt

[Lonestarblue]

38. One of the comments on the article was about Australia now competing for China's purchases.

The commenter said that Australia had been trying to break into the China soybean market for decades, and now—thanks to Trump—they have. The commenter also said that China had been concerned about the US product already because the US had relaxed standards for pesticide use and the level of chemicals in US soybeans. According t the commenter, Australian soybeans are higher quality and lower priced. This market is gone, and many other countries do not want US food products because they’re filled with pesticides. The US needs a rethinking of our big agribusiness market. It is poisoning US consumers and contributing to the health issues we have with nearly half the population having diabetes. Levels of cancer are higher in agricultural areas because of the agricultural runoff from overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

[Brother Buzz]

40. Russia stepped up big time with soybean exports....

and they have a slick railroad train route to expedite shipments.

[Thekaspervote]

50. This!

[erlewyne]

70. Brazil is burning down the rain forests to create soy bean.

fields forever.

[SunSeeker]

73. Yep. We will feel the horrific Trump repercussions forever.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

30. Putin must be proud of his little puppets

TrumPutin, Moscow Mitch and the Gangsters Of Putin have accomplished what Putin's Russia could not -- weaken the U.S. and China.

[rpannier]

41. Zippy Duvall

Zippy the Pinhead

[SCVDem]

42. Your republican party

hard at work.

The next NYT best seller will be, "One Million Uses For Soybeans".

[Marcuse]

43. The Trump Organization stiffs its creditors. I could see Trump responding with a targeted default.

[Politicub]

45. Wow - almost fell off my chair when I saw this headline

This is going to decimate American agriculture. The country can prop up farmers only for so long.

Trump is a major threat to the stability of our economy.

[Blue_true]

47. China has opened purchasing deals with about four other countries for grain.

They will likely go to Australia for beef and several other countries beside us for pork.

On edit, Brazil is just behind us in pork production (China is 1 and the EU is two), but we export 3 times+ as much pork. Vietnam is just behind Brazil, but exports only 1% of it's pork. Canada, The Phillipines, Japan and South Korea are other major producers. It is entirely possible for China to get all the pork it bought from US farmers from Vietnam and the Phillipines since both are big producers and have low exports, both would have to sacrifice on internal use until herds are expanded, but China would likely make that worth their while.

[Politicub]

59. After the Trump storm passes, it will be harder for the U.S. to get agreements

in place with other countries for imports and exports. The reason being, Trump has demonstrated to the world that the U.S. can not be trusted to maintain stable policies.

It will be a huge relief when Trump is gone. At the same time, there will be so much damage to repair to our institutions and America's relationships with other countries.

China is wise to look elsewhere for the longterm. I hate it and its just another thing that I feel helpless about.

[Toorich]

46. No welfare Cadillacs......

......no welfare John Deeres.....
Family farms will be a thing of the past.
Corporate farms will own it all.
The family farmers will become the new migrant workers.
America will be paying 3 or 4 times more for nutritious
and delicious grub at the store, 'cause shareholder profits
and CEO bonuses.
Why don't all ya'll mofo vote repub some more?

[Blue_true]

86. The grub will cost a lot more, but it WILL NOT be nutritious.

As factory farming has taken greater hold in the country, the nutritional value of food has steadily declined. Today people that mostly eat chicken as meat (as opposed to beef, pork, fish) are increasingly Vitamin B12 deficient, that is crazy.

[uponit7771]

48. More money for Russia, just what Putin ordered

[Golden Raisin]

51. Real test will be if and when American farmers

stop voting Republican, let alone for Trump.

[Blue_true]

89. Most won't do that. They believe in a racist Jesus (as contradictorily as that is).

They can be out on their farms starving, and they will blame everyone but Trump and the Republican Party for their troubles.

[democratisphere]

53. This is what happens when people elect a six times bankrupt flunky to the Presidency.

drumpf will bail out the farmers again.

[Hekate]

61. Mad King thinks it's all a game show, a reality tv show. Well, China is NOT playing.

Trump is going to wreck this country from top to bottom.

[ffr]

65. Ooh baby, this is gonna bite both the farmers who didn't vote for Hillary

and tRump come 2020.

[James48]

69. Old article. More than a month old.

That’s why the Chinese market is gone - and why Ag exports in total are down 54% overall in August.

Farmers are screwed. It took 30 years to build these Chinese sales, and it only took a few months for Trump to totally destroy them.

[Blue_true]

87. The article is about a month old, but China has continued to turn the screws.

They seem focused on other industries outside of farming that are heavily dependent on exporting to China, or selling in the Chinese market, automobiles is one of those industries, if China attacks it, China destroys GM, in particular.

My guess? China will be strategic if it attacks automobiles, it will attack companies that have set up a lot of production in Trump supporting red states, instead of attacking manufacturers that are heavily in the Midwest. It seems that they have decided that they and the world are better off if they bring about that asshole's electoral defeat. So I doubt that they will bleed out places like the industrial Midwest that can help in defeating Trump, but states like Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina won't be so lucky.

[avebury]

77. In other words what tax dollars you pay in that don't go to the 1% will go to

to the farmers that helped put the idiot into the WH.

[randr]

82. That should make his minions pass out from exhaustion over the winning thingy.

Does this mean he has won the war? Or did China just pick up their marbles and go home?

[Blue_true]

88. How long can we keep supporting farmers, even beyond the farm produce prize support and marketing

assistance infrastructure that has been in place for decades? The $28 billion bribe by Trump will be an annual thing if he stays in office, can taxpayers afford to support farmers that way?

[randr]

90. How long will farmers be whores?

[bluecollar2]

85. The article cited in the OP is a month old...

Having said that I'd like to make an observation as a
"farmer"...

To clarify why I put "farmer" in brackets...

I'm a retired aircraft mechanic. My father "farmed" 4.5 acres in Southeast Florida for almost 30 years. After he passed away I retired from AA and moved down to Florida so my mother could stay on the "farm."

He "farmed" tropical fruit in a grove. At first Starfruit, and after Hurricane Andrew he converted the grove to Lychee and Longan trees.

I am not, nor was my father ever a supporter of Trump.

We dont have a huge row crop business...we operate a tropical fruit growing business.

China does not buy from us. We do not get any subsidy from the United States Government.

Our biggest competition comes from Mexico, our biggest danger is the importation of mite infected fruit tree stock from China.

The bailout is not favoring farmers as a group. The bailout is favoring agribusinesses and only those who have the influence.

There is a difference between agribusiness and farming...

"Farmers" come in all different forms...livestock, rowcrops, aquaculture, groves and orchards...

We're all doing our best. It would be nice to get a break from the insinuation that we're all Trump supporters and getting government subsidies.

Thanks for listening.

[UCmeNdc]

93. Tax dollars should not pay for private businesses losses.

That is just plain welfare payments in another form.