American Soybean Association leader and North Dakota soybean farmer Josh Gackle testified today before the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) during a public hearing to review China’s follow-through on commitments made as part of the 2020 U.S.–China Phase One Agreement.
The hearing was held as part of a Section 301 investigation examining whether China had fully implemented its commitments under the Agreement. Gackle urged USTR to avoid repeating the mistakes of the last trade war and instead focus on enforcing existing commitments while keeping markets open for U.S. soybean farmers.
Gackle explained that soybeans are the nation’s largest agricultural export and that China remains the single most important market for U.S. soybeans. In Marketing Year (MY) 2023/2024, China purchased nearly 25 million metric tons valued at approximately $13 billion. The Chinese market represents more than half of all U.S. soybean exports, and no other market can replace that demand.
“When trade breaks down, soybean farmers are the first to feel it,” Gackle said. “The last trade war caused a 76% drop in the value of U.S. soybean exports to China and cost U.S. agriculture more than $27 billion. Soybean farmers don’t need another trade fight; we need certainty. That means enforcing past commitments and working toward agreements that keep markets open and predictable for the long term.”
Gackle pointed to the 2020 Phase One Agreement as a reminder that easing tariffs helped restore market access and reduce damage to farm country. He cautioned that launching new tariffs or trade penalties today could again trigger retaliation and undermine soybean farmers who are already facing tight margins and market uncertainty.
The full written comments submitted jointly by the American Soybean Association and the U.S. Soybean Export Council are available here.
