The Soybean: Achilles’ Heel of US Agriculture

Chongqing - Can you believe that a humble legume like the soybean could shake the very foundations of U.S. agricultural leadership? This autumn, American farmers are watching in distress as mountains of unsold soybeans pile up. China, by a staggering margin, has long been the top buyer of U.S. soybeans. In 2024 alone, China purchased $12.6 billion worth of American soybeans, accounting for nearly 60% of total U.S. soybean exports. However, since late May—following the Trump administration’s decision to impose steep tariffs on Chinese goods—Chinese companies have halted all soybean purchases from the United States， which put the US farmers in a dilemma.  How can soybeans become the Achilles' Heel of US agriculture? AI anchor Echoes will share an insight on this. Let's take a look.