Picture this: a bustling breakfast table in Washington, D.C., where farmers' futures and global politics collided over steaming cups of coffee and soybeans. On Friday, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng took the podium at the US-China Partner Breakfast Reception to deliver a clear message: agriculture shouldn't be playing political ping-pong and farmers definitely shouldn't foot the bill for a trade war 😮🌱.
"Agriculture should not be politicized, and farmers should not pay the cost of trade war," Xie told an audience made up of US Soybean Export Council members and a Chinese agricultural delegation. He didn't hold back, calling recent moves to restrict Chinese citizens and businesses from buying U.S. farmland "purely a move of political manipulation on the pretext of national security."
Here's a quick stat check: Chinese investors hold less than 0.03% of U.S. farmland. Xie asked, "How can it pose a threat to U.S. food security as some have claimed?" It's a drop in the bucket compared to the vast American fields that fuel global soy markets.
The ambassador then laid out the numbers that speak volumes: U.S. agricultural exports to China plunged 53% year-over-year in the first half of this year, while soybean sales tumbled by 51%. "The rising protectionism has undoubtedly cast a shadow over our agricultural cooperation," he warned.
Looking beyond the crops, Xie Feng struck an optimistic tone about Sino-U.S. ties, saying China is ready to use existing economic and trade consultation mechanisms to clear up misunderstandings, build consensus, and get back on the path of win-win cooperation 🚀.
For farmers on both sides of the Pacific, this focus on dialogue over drama could mean steadier harvests, healthier trade, and a reminder that in the world of agriculture, everyone grows best when they grow together.
Reference(s):
Farmers should not pay cost of trade war: Chinese ambassador to U.S.
cgtn.com
