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Anyone still bathing in the America First tub should take a moment to read a couple of articles, one from that ultra-liberal rag, The Wall Street Journal, the other from Harvest Public Media, about the god-awful effects of our President’s tariffs and the trade wars they have spawned.
Through his petulant bravado with China, Trump has trashed the market for American soybean farmers, who voted for him in the false belief that he was on their side. It turns out they don’t need for him to be their retribution. They just need a trade policy that doesn’t drive their best customer into the arms of their Brazilian and Argentinian competitors. This happened in 2018, also, but it’s even worse today.
Last year, China bought fifty-two percent of America’s $24 billion soybean crop. To date, they have bought none. Zero. Trump may think Xi Jinping is going to bail him out, and maybe he will, but he doesn’t have to. Xi doesn’t have to answer to any voters, so if he wishes to he can just say China will live with fewer soybeans this year, thank you very much, even if it affects their supply or prices.
This is all about Trump’s fixation on “deals.” In his economic ignorance (there’s that second rate Wharton School for you), he thinks the world runs by the same rules as his primitive zero-sum view of the property development market. So he blew up the global trading system on the false belief that we were being fleeced, when in fact things were working fine. Free trade, within reason and a few boundaries, is good for everyone. We don’t need deals, and we don’t need to alienate our farmers’ customers.
But he did. I challenge our MAGA friends to find value in this ridiculous policy and to explain it to America’s farmers.
From THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
October 7, 2025
America’s Soybean Farmers Are Panicking Over the Loss of Chinese Buyers
“We’ll see the bottom drop out if we don’t get a deal with China soon,” said Ron Kindred, who farms 1,700 acres of corn and soybeans in central Illinois.
From HARVEST PUBLIC MEDIA
September 25, 2025
China won't buy American soybeans anymore, leaving farmers with limited options
“To have [China] on the sidelines right now is a major problem, especially because prices were already low and the cost of raising soybeans is high. And so this just adds to the financial issues that farmers are facing as they get ready to go into harvest.” Chad Hart, Agriculture Economist at Iowa State University.
From THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
October 15, 2025
For extra credit, I recommend this podcast from Rick Wilson, former Republican consultant, “never Trumper,” and co-founder of the Lincoln Project.
Trump Has Never Been “AMERICA FIRST.”
October 17, 2025
“You know who we’re not giving $40 billion to right now? The farmers that Trump’s trade policy has absolutely screwed.” Rick Wilson, The Lincoln Project
Thanks for reading. This foolishness will not go away. See you at the No Kings protest.
