Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng issued a strong appeal for agricultural cooperation during a U.S.-China soybean industry reception on Friday, warning that farmers are bearing the brunt of trade tensions and protectionist policies.
Politicization of Agriculture Criticized
"Agriculture should not be politicized, and farmers should not pay the cost of trade war," Xie stated at the event attended by the U.S. Soybean Export Council and Chinese agricultural representatives. He emphasized that Chinese investors hold less than 0.03% of U.S. farmland, dismissing claims of food security risks as "purely political manipulation."
Economic Impact on Soybean Trade
New data reveals a sharp decline in U.S. agricultural exports to China, with soybean shipments dropping 51% year-over-year in H1 2023. "Rising protectionism has cast a shadow over our cooperation," Xie noted, urging both nations to leverage existing economic consultation mechanisms to resolve disputes.
Path Forward for Cooperation
The ambassador called for clearer communication and consensus-building to "return to the right track of win-win cooperation." His remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of cross-border agricultural investments and ongoing debates about balancing national security concerns with economic interdependence.
