COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A steep drop in U.S. soybean sales to China could ripple far beyond farm fields. As China shifts its buying power to South America, trucking, ports, and local jobs may soon feel the impact, including right here in central Ohio.
Soybeans are a major U.S. commodity, especially in states like Ohio, Iowa, and Illinois. But farmers are bracing for a heavy blow as China, once America’s top soybean buyer, has stopped placing new orders.
The trade dispute began in 2018, and with steep Chinese tariffs still in place, American soybeans remain far more expensive than crops from Brazil and Argentina.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, U.S. farmers still shipped nearly $13 billion worth of soybeans to China in 2024. But for this harvest season, the world’s largest buyer hasn’t locked in a single new order.
“Well, anybody that sells soybeans is going to be impacted by tariffs. So yes, it has to be a big concern. Some states sell more, a bigger percentage of their soybeans to China, but anybody is going to be impacted if they grow soybeans. So if you know, we’re a huge soybean producer in the state of Ohio,” said Governor Mike DeWine.
The pullback could disrupt the supply chain, affecting truck drivers, rail yards, port workers, and small-town businesses tied to agriculture.
“A very significant point is that farmers are going to need assistance. The last time we had the trade tension several years ago—the administration and Congress stepped up to financially assist farmers and I think that is going to be another important factor that is going to come up,” said Kirk Merritt with the Ohio Soybean Association.
Agriculture remains Ohio’s top industry. Leaders say protecting it is critical not just for farmers but also for thousands of jobs tied to the crop.
Experts warn farmers may be facing one of their toughest harvests in years, and how Washington responds could determine whether they can weather the storm.
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