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China’s trade tactics could impact the future of U.S. soybean exports

A professor at Michigan State University says he’s concerned the rapid loss of market share to South America could impact the future of U.S. soybean exports.

David Ortega says China still has not made any new crop soybean purchases for the current marketing year.

“China likes stability when it comes to trade policy,” he says. “Due to how sensitive they are when it comes to national security and food security, it’s no surprise that China is turning to our competitors, Brazil and Argentina, for some of their key agricultural imports.”

He says the country continues to invest in its agricultural sector to become more self-sufficient.

“They’re working to make their pork sector less reliant on soybeans and corn,” he says. “They’re looking at other sources of protein, while the US has dropped public investments in ag research and development over the last two decades.”

Ortega says the U.S. should be prioritizing a new trade deal with China instead of offering economic support to competitors.

Ortega made his comments during the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s 2025 Midwest Agriculture Conference.