Home / Business and Economy / Illinois Farmer Battles to Revive China Soybean Exports Amid Trade Woes
Illinois Farmer Battles to Revive China Soybean Exports Amid Trade Woes
11 Nov
Summary
- Illinois soybean farmer's China exports drop from 40% to 0% this year
- China maintains 13% tariff on U.S. soybeans despite trade deal promises
- White House says China will buy 12M metric tons of soybeans by 2025
As of November 11, 2025, Illinois soybean farmer Scott Gaffner is fighting to regain his China business after his farm's soybean exports to the country dropped from 40% to 0% this year. Gaffner, a member of the U.S. Soybean Export Council, traveled to the China International Import Expo in Shanghai last week in a bid to revive his China sales.
Despite a trade deal discussed between former U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi in 2019, China has maintained a 13% tariff on U.S. soybeans. The White House has stated that China will purchase 12 million metric tons of soybeans by the end of this year and 25 million for each of the next three years, but China is yet to confirm these numbers. This is still down from the nearly 27 million metric tons China bought in 2024.
Gaffner's struggle to maintain his China market share highlights the ongoing challenges U.S. farmers face in navigating the complex trade relationship between the world's two largest economies. As the soybean industry continues to adapt to the shifting trade landscape, farmers like Gaffner are determined to find new ways to keep their products competitive in the crucial Chinese market.
