Beijing has sharply criticized rising US protectionist measures, warning that they are undermining agricultural ties and threatening the stability of China-US trade.

In a speech published by the Chinese Embassy on Saturday, Chinese Ambassador to Washington Xie Feng said protectionism is casting a "shadow" over agricultural cooperation between the two countries.

"It goes without saying that protectionism is rampant, casting a shadow over China-US agricultural cooperation," Xie stated, underscoring that farmers in both nations should not bear the cost of escalating trade tensions.

Agriculture has become a flashpoint in the ongoing US-China tariffs dispute, which began under US President Donald Trump. In March, China imposed tariffs of up to 15% on $21 billion worth of American agricultural and food products in retaliation for sweeping US trade measures.

Though a temporary 90-day truce was reached this month to delay additional tariffs, the economic impact is already visible. According to Xie, US agricultural exports to China dropped by 53% in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2024, with soybean exports alone falling by 51%.

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Xie Feng urges separation of politics, agriculture

Speaking at a soybean industry event in Washington, Xie stressed the importance of insulating agriculture from political tensions.

"American farmers, like their Chinese counterparts, are hardworking and humble. Agriculture should not be hijacked by politics, and farmers should not be made to pay the price of a trade war," he said.

He described agriculture as a "pillar of bilateral relations" and pointed out that while China has a comparative advantage in labor-intensive goods, the US excels in land-intensive, large-scale agricultural production.

Tensions have also escalated over land ownership and food security concerns. Last month, US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced plans to restrict farmland purchases by what Washington deems "foreign adversaries", including China.

In a related move, the US Department of Agriculture terminated contracts with 70 foreign researchers after a national security review targeting influences from China, Russia, the DPRK, and Iran.

Dismissing US concerns, Xie called the restrictions “political manipulation", noting that Chinese investors own less than 0.03% of US agricultural land. "Where does the claim of 'threatening US food security' even come from?" he asked.

Future of China-US trade tied to agricultural cooperation

Industry analysts warn that US soybean exporters risk losing billions in revenue this year as Chinese buyers increasingly turn to Brazil for their oilseed needs during the crucial US marketing season.

With both economies deeply intertwined, especially in the agriculture sector, Xie emphasized that strengthening China-US trade requires political will and mutual respect.

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