Chinese Government Continues to Threaten U.S. Agriculture
It has been known for some time that the Chinese government has made it a priority to acquire American farmland. The Chinese government and their representatives have been buying up U.S. land at a rapid pace and now own almost 300,000 acres. Over the past few weeks, however, we may have seen the most blatant acknowledgements by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that obtaining agricultural property is at the cornerstone of their strategy to dominate the globe.
China Threatens Panama Canal Deal: New reports suggest that government powers in Beijing may scuttle an agreement that would give the U.S. more control over the Panama Canal. The sale of dozens of seaports from a Hong Kong based company to U.S.-owned investors was agreed to in March. The Panama Canal is one of the biggest hubs for U.S. agriculture exports in the world. Any interference with the U.S. takeover of the Canal by the CCP could significantly disrupt American farm supply chains.
Agriculture Threats Highlight the Urgency of Trade Deal: The U.S. and China will meet next week to further discuss a trade deal between the two countries. Thankfully, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has signaled that the talks have been positive. Until there is a deal, China continues to use the threat of blocking U.S. farm products and hurting U.S. farmers as its main leverage.
President Xi on Agricultural Property: A social media feed with ties to the government of China recently reposted President Xi’s famous quote about farm policy from a 2020 speech to communist leaders. The president said, “Agriculture is the foundation of a country and the top priority in governance.” The sentiment serves as a constant reminder that farm policy consumes the CCP.
Our Elected Officials in Washington Must Take Action
The United States government and our elected officials must stay on alert. Legislation that the Protecting American Initiative has championed to block farmland sales to the CCP is sweeping the nation. In order to fully resist the coordinated effort to control America’s food supply, it is imperative that the federal government join the fight.
We need Washington to enact laws that protect farms and U.S. agricultural product manufacturers. Here are some ways they’ve already started and what more they can do.
New Rules at the USDA: Early this month, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it would be drafting new federal rules to limit the Chinese government from acquiring American farmland. This is a great step that we support 100%. To fully protect our food supply, Americans also need Congress to step up and pass permanent laws.
The Farm Bill: Farm policy in the U.S. is dictated through a piece of legislation known as the “Farm Bill,” which is usually reauthorized every five years. For the last few years, the previous Farm Bill has been extended before it was due to lapse. The next lapse is September 30, 2025, and there is talk of another extension. If any policy changes are made, those must include U.S. agricultural protections.
Agricultural Appropriations: Discretionary farm programs, including the entire USDA, are funded annually through the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Congress has the ability to restrict the use of these funds contingent on the implementation of certain policies. Members of the House and Senate should ensure that money from taxpayers is tied to policies that protect American farmers.