Soybean Leaders Stress Trade Importance Amid Renewed Disputes

March 4, 2025

Ankeny, Iowa – Iowa Soybean Association President Brent Swart of Spencer today issued the following statement following announced retaliatory tariffs by Canada, China, and Mexico on imports of several U.S. goods, including agricultural products like soybeans and more:

"China needs quality and reliable sources of soy. The U.S. soybean farmer needs the export market. It’s our hope and expectation that U.S. and Chinese officials will quickly resolve this escalating trade dispute for the benefit of American farmers and our Chinese customers.

“Soybean farmers want to be an essential part of helping lower our trade deficit with China. We believe getting back to an enforced phase-one trade agreement and growing market access are important to increasing our agricultural trade surplus.

“Mexico and Canada are local and important markets for U.S. farmers. Heightening tensions with these two countries is counterproductive to the needs of Iowa soybean farmers with markets already below the cost of production and going lower.

“Assuming a sudden and significant spike in domestic demand will counter escalating trade wars with major buyers of Iowa and U.S. commodities is naïve and risks further alienating U.S. farmers from the global food supply chain as farmers prepare for the start of another growing season.

“Despite these additional and unnecessary headwinds, we will continue to make our case for trade with this administration and prioritize the diversification of export markets with a growing number of countries who prefer the reliability, consistency and quality of U.S. soy.”

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Not funded by the soybean checkoff

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The Iowa Soybean Association (www.iasoybeans.com) is “Driven To Deliver” increased soybean demand through market development and new uses, farmer-focused research and results, timely information and know-how and policy initiatives enabling farmers and the industry to flourish. Founded in 1964 by farmers to serve farmers, ISA is governed by a board of 22 farmers to advocate on behalf of the state’s 37,000 soybean producers, including more than 15,000 ISA farmer members and industry stakeholders.

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