Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng delivered a fiery speech at a soybean industry event Friday, calling out trade war fallout affecting farmers. "Agriculture should not be politicized," he declared, arguing that rural communities shouldn’t foot the bill for geopolitical spats. 🌾
By the Numbers
Xie revealed shocking stats: U.S. farm exports to China plummeted 53% this year, with soybean sales dropping 51%. "Protectionism is choking our cooperation," he warned, as tensions threaten a $40 billion agricultural trade relationship.
Farmland Feud
The ambassador slammed recent U.S. moves to block Chinese investments in American farmland as "political theater." Chinese investors own less than 0.03% of U.S. agricultural land – equivalent to about three Manhattan-sized plots nationwide.
What’s Next?
Xie proposed reviving bilateral economic talks to "clear misunderstandings" and rebuild trust. His message to policymakers? Stop treating soybeans like chess pieces and start seeing farmers as partners. 🤝
Reference(s):
Farmers should not pay cost of trade war: Chinese ambassador to U.S.
cgtn.com