US officials to meet soybean and pork farmers’ groups as concerns grow over fallout from China trade war
US trade representative to discuss possible fallout with agribusiness after Donald Trump decided to slap heavy tariffs on Chinese goods.
American agribusiness groups, including representatives from the American Soybean Association, have been invited to a special meeting in Washington with Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to discuss the possible fallout from any trade war between the US and China.
The meeting, which will “address trade issues facing our nation’s producers and agribusinesses”, will be convened on Friday, according to one person familiar with the situation, who added that officials from the National Pork Producers Council were also invited to the meeting.
Soybeans are the leading US export to China in terms of value, while pork is one of the products targeted in Beijing’s response to US President Donald Trump’s decision last week to levy punitive tariffs on Chinese goods.
Farmers’ representatives have warned that many farmers cannot afford to lose any income, although exporters said they had met Chinese officials to discuss ways to keep the trade in soybeans going.
To follow through with the order, Lighthizer is drawing up a list of Chinese products that will face tariffs amounting to as much as US$60 billion annually.
