Caleb Ragland, a soybean farmer from Kentucky and president of the American Soybean Association, is appealing to President Donald Trump to resolve the ongoing trade war. Ragland, who supported Trump in the 2016 election, expressed deep concern over the impact of escalating tariffs on American farmers.
“I rely entirely on my farm for my family’s income and that of my three full-time workers,” Ragland wrote in an article published on Wednesday in The Free Press. “The trade war is a gamble with American livelihoods, especially for farmers.”
He urged President Trump to “please make a deal with China now” to end the trade tensions. Ragland warned that prolonged disputes could lead China to seek alternative suppliers like Brazil, jeopardizing the U.S. agricultural export market.
On Wednesday, President Trump increased tariffs on Chinese goods while pausing reciprocal tariffs on other countries. This move has left many farmers anxious about the future of their businesses, fearing the loss of their largest export market.
The New York Times reported that the loss of China as an export destination could significantly affect agricultural workers, particularly in states that heavily supported Trump in the election. Soybean producers caution that farms could face closure as new tariffs up to 145 percent take effect.
“If this lasts long term, we’re going to have a significant number of farmers going out of business,” Ragland told The New York Times. “We still bear scars from the last trade war.”
Kenneth Hartman Jr., president of the National Corn Growers Association, echoed these concerns. “The longer that uncertainty exists, the more concerned we become that our growers could harvest billions of bushels of corn for which they will not have reliable markets,” he said. “Our farmers want certainty that our customers at home and abroad will buy our products in the months and years ahead.”
Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that Chinese soybean processors purchased an unusually large amount of Brazilian soybeans this week. Importers bought at least 40 cargoes, equivalent to over 2.4 million tonnes, as the trade war makes U.S. crops less viable.
The escalating trade tensions underscore the urgency for a resolution. As American farmers face increasing challenges, the call for diplomatic solutions becomes ever more pressing.
