A few hours ago, the White House "closed". As the Senate did not approve the government budget, the Trump administration officially entered a shutdown period. Interestingly, just a few hours after the White House shut down, Trump quickly sent a message on his social media, saying that he wanted to have a good chat with China.
In this article, he clearly mentioned three things: First, American soybean farmers are suffering because China no longer buys their soybeans; Second, in order to help these American farmers, the government intends to take a sum of money to subsidize them; Third, China has made an agreement with the United States before, saying that it will buy billions of dollars of American products, with the focus on soybeans.
In the end, he stepped on Biden and said that "Sleepy Joe" was not capable and failed to get China to fulfill the original agreement, and he would talk about it with China next and insisted that China buy American soybeans.
When the White House stops, Trump hurries to find a “breakthrough”
The U.S. government stopped this, saying that it was the outcome of the two-party game. The Senate did not knock on the government budget, and many federal government agencies could only stop working first.
As soon as the government shuts down, public services will definitely be affected, and the economy may be dragged down, so his support rate will naturally drop.
At this juncture, Trump must find a way to divert everyone's attention and save some political capital for himself. The matter of "whether China buys American soybeans" has become a "good starting point" in his eyes.
To know, American soybeans farmers have always been important supporters of the Republican Party, these people's interests have been damaged, Trump can not matter. he wants to push the responsibility on China, one way to reassure these farmers, and second to pressure on China, in the end is for his own political purposes.
The suffering of American soybean farmers is really not just lip service
Trump said in Brunei that U.S. soy farmers are guilty, but this is not a blunder.In recent years, the U.S. soybean industry has been really bad, a bunch of trouble after a bunch.
Previously, China has been one of the main buyers of American soybeans. However, in recent years, affected by factors such as Sino-US trade friction, the amount of soybeans purchased by China from the United States has dropped sharply.
Overlooking the statistics of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it is known that in 2024, China imported 22.14 million tons of soybeans from the United States, which is 22.7% less than the previous year;
By 2025, soybean exports to China in the new season will be even worse, falling 35% directly from the same period last year. Looking at July data alone, China bought a full 51% less U.S. soybeans than in the same month last year.
On the other hand, the U.S. soybeans are not sold, but the soybeans industry in these countries in Brazil is going up. Brazil's soybeans production is higher year by year, and the share of the Chinese market is growing. From 1st to August 2025, China imported a total of 7331.24 million tons of soybeans, Brazil's soybeans accounted for 71.6%, and the largest supplier;
The proportion of soybeans in the United States has dropped directly to 22.8%, and the gap can be seen at a glance. The problem facing American soybean farmers now is not just as simple as being unable to sell. The price of soybeans kept falling, and the warehouse was full of soybeans and could not be sold at all.
To help them ease the pressure, the U.S. government has also engaged in several agricultural subsidies before, but these subsidies do not address the core problems at all.
Trump’s “little nine” is obvious.
Late put the "Let China buy American soybeans" issue on the table, the calculator in his heart was loud. At one point, he wanted to bring domestic contradictions to China. The government stopped the pot, both parties had a responsibility, but Trump did not say that. He blamed the Senate for not approving the budget, while also linked the trouble of soybeans and China, wanting to make the people feel that China has caused this all.
Doing so can not only reduce one's own political pressure, but also stir up domestic sentiment and gain more support rate-after all, soybean farmers and voters who support him may be more inclined to him when they see him "speaking out for the interests of the United States".
In addition, he wanted to talk about soybeans to sign a more favorable agreement with China for the United States. he mentioned that "China had agreed to buy American products before", which means that it should be the first phase of China-US economic and trade agreement.
In that agreement, there was indeed the content that China wanted to buy more American agricultural products, but since then, the United States has been tightening export controls and stepping up sanctions against Chinese enterprises, and the agreement has not been well implemented at all. Now Lao Te has brought this out, just to use it as a bargaining chip, forcing China to make concessions in trade negotiations, so that the United States can earn more benefits.
Not only that, he also used this to step Biden a foot. Crying "sleep Joe" is not the case, can not let China fulfill the agreement, this is clearly saying Biden can not, secretly is actually for himself to create the momentum. he wanted to make everyone feel that only he can deal with China trade issue, than Biden is more suitable as a president - after all, there may be elections, this "comparison" can help him a lot of votes.
China’s position has always been clear.
Faced with Lao Te's accusations and pressure, China knows what it is and has its own considerations. China has always handled Sino-US economic and trade relations with an equal, mutually beneficial and win-win attitude. Take the first phase of the Sino-US economic and trade agreement. China conscientiously fulfilled its obligations at the beginning.
But what about the US? While letting China buy their things, it constantly imposes tariffs, engages in export controls and sanctions against Chinese enterprises, which completely ruins the atmosphere of Sino-US economic and trade cooperation. China has always felt that to solve Sino-US economic and trade problems, it is necessary for both sides to sit down and talk on an equal footing and reach a consensus, instead of relying on one side to point to the nose and accuse and exert pressure.
As for buying not buying American soybeans, China's attitude has never changed. China is the world's largest soybeans importer, the domestic demand for soybeans is large - whether it is crushed oil or feed, can not be separated from soybeans.
In recent years, China has bought more Brazilian soybeans, not intentionally not to buy the United States, but Brazilian soybeans have an advantage in price and quality, and more buy from several countries, can diversification of import sources, to ensure our own food security.
Of course, China is not entirely not buying U.S. soybeans. as long as the U.S. side can take practical action to improve the Sino-U.S. trade relations and give Chinese enterprises a fair, fair and non-discriminatory trade environment, China is definitely willing to talk well with the U.S. side on the trade issue of soybeans and agricultural products under the premise that it is in its own interests - after all, cooperation is good for both sides, and it is not necessary to keep sticking.
How China and the United States will argue next depends on actual actions
This time, Lao Te is in a hurry to post a message to talk about soybeans with China. In the final analysis, it is an episode in the Sino-US contest. In the future, the pulling between China and the United States in the fields of economy, trade, science and technology, and military affairs will definitely continue.
But one thing must be made clear: if the United States always wants to use pressure to make China bow, it is really wrong. China and the United States are both among the best economies in the world. Given their size, only by cooperating well can we make money. If we go against each other, no one can get good-American soybean farmers suffer, and China's enterprises may also be affected. In the end, both sides will suffer.
The U.S. government should really let go of the old set of Cold War thinking, do not always think of the "zero-sum game", feel that if you win others, you have to lose, and deal with China with a more realistic and rational attitude.
China on this side, do not panic. in its own rhythm, the principle of insistence must be adhered to, the interests of the struggle must be fought for. in the face of the pressure of the United States, do not rush to refute, reasonably respond to, guard their own interests and face is the most important.
Source of information:
Global Network: funding interruption, employees "holidays" US government shutdown affects the operation of several institutions
Observer Network: Soybeans cannot be sold, Trump is anxious: He will have a good talk with China during APEC