The American Soybean Association (ASA) has urged the U.S. government to negotiate a trade deal with China to reopen the Chinese market for U.S. soybeans. The ASA emphasized that American soybean farmers are facing extreme financial stress and are nearing a trade and financial precipice due to the ongoing trade dispute and tariffs. The association warned that without a resolution, the U.S. risks losing billions of dollars as China increasingly turns to Brazil for soybean imports. In a letter to President Donald Trump, ASA President Caleb Ragland highlighted the urgent need to remove duties and potentially secure significant soybean purchases from China. Meanwhile, Chinese officials have criticized what they describe as rampant U.S. protectionism, warning that it threatens agricultural ties and cooperation between the two countries. China’s ambassador has also stated that farmers should not bear the brunt of the trade war’s consequences. The ongoing trade tensions have led to a 53% drop in U.S. agricultural exports to China this year. In response to the tariffs, the U.S. government has announced plans to purchase affected agricultural products to support farmers impacted by the trade conflict.