American Soybean Association

Farmer investments in international markets produced strong results in the 2017-18 marketing year, despite trade dynamics developing as the export period closed. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. soybean farmers exported a record-breaking 2.6 billion bushels of U.S. soy and soy products, valued at more than $28 billion last market year. The U.S. also … Read More »

Talks are good, purchases are good, but lifting the tariff that China imposed last July on soybean imports from the United States is the only way for U.S. soybean farmers to regain commercial access to the significant Chinese market. “It is heartening that the Administration is keeping soybeans in the conversation during the ongoing 90-day … Read More »

As the U.S. begins prepping for trade negotiations with the European Union (EU), the Trump Administration is demanding agriculture be on the table. U.S. law requires the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to publish objectives 30 days prior to negotiations. Today, the Administration included in its negotiating objectives a set of ag-related demands, which has been … Read More »

It has been a full six months since China retaliated against President Trump’s 25 percent tariff on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods. That tariff, which took effect July 6, 2018, has rocked the foundation of a decades-old trade relationship U.S. soybean farmers built with China, the largest market for American beans. And, it has … Read More »

The American Soybean Association (ASA) entered 2019 focused on achieving key federal legislative and regulatory priorities that can benefit soybean farmer competitiveness and profitability. Topping the list for 2019 is pushing the Administration to resolve its tariff war with China, including rescinding its Section 301 duties if China agrees to lift its 25 percent tariff … Read More »

Over the holiday break we saw various actionable items in the trade world, as well as a few on the horizon that ASA wants to make soybean growers aware of. The first is that on Dec. 20, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) entered into force for Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New … Read More »

U.S. soybean farmers welcomed news from President Trump Monday confirming a second payment under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Market Facilitation Program. “Soy growers are very thankful that President Trump understands the need for this payment on the full 2018 production and that the Administration will deliver the second half of the aid … Read More »

The American Soybean Association (ASA) is encouraged by news this week that buyers in China have made purchases of U.S. soybeans. U.S. soybean sales to China were suspended earlier this year as trade relations between the countries faltered under the current tariff war. Davie Stephens, ASA President and a grower from Clinton, Ky., said, “This … Read More »

The American Soybean Association (ASA) was pleased to hear positive reports from the G20 Summit Saturday night that President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have potentially agreed to deescalate the current trade friction by not raising tariffs further while negotiations continue. According to a White House statement, China has also agreed to purchase more … Read More »

ASA coordinated with USSEC submitting joint comments and objectives for a U.S. – Japan Free Trade Agreement to the USTR, highlighting reducing tariffs and increasing market access as key objectives for both in the upcoming Free Trade Agreement with Japan. Japan is the fifth-largest market for U.S. soybean exports, with shipments valued at $976 million … Read More »