Cleaver, 36 House Democrats Urge Administration to End Tariff-Fueled Economic Assault on Soybean Farmers
(Washington, D.C.) – This week, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Sean Casten, along with 35 other House Democrats, called on the president to end the reckless tariff policies that are devastating American soybean farmers across the country. In a letter to the president, the lawmakers highlighted the significant negative economic impact of his tariffs on soybean farmers and urged the president to immediately terminate them before more harm is done.
Soybeans are Missouri’s largest commodity crop, with over five million acres dedicated to soybeans each year, providing $2.5 billion in economic value. In addition to levying harmful tariffs, the administration also shut down a major soybean research project earlier this year.
“Soybeans are the backbone of American agriculture, contributing over $31 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2023-2024 crop year. In 2024, China purchased more than half of all U.S. soybean exports, amounting to $12.6 billion,” the lawmakers wrote. “However, in response to the tariffs you imposed earlier this year, China levied retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports and has halted all U.S. soybean purchases since May. As a result, American farmers are at risk of becoming collateral damage in your trade war.”
The United States’ largest soybean trading partner has not purchased soybeans since May due to President Trump’s tariffs and has instead chosen to buy soybeans from Brazil and Argentina. At the same time, President Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently announced that the Administration would provide $20 billion in taxpayer money to bail out Argentina, which further endangers the U.S. soybean industry by providing financial support to a leading American competitor.
These actions threaten the long-term access to foreign markets for U.S. producers. The value of U.S. soybean exports to China never fully recovered after the U.S. tariff war with China in President Trump’s first term, when the value of U.S. soybean exports to China plunged from $14 billion in 2016 to $3.1 billion in 2018. At the same time the soybean markets are under threat, farmers are being hit with higher input costs from Trump’s tariff war.
In addition to Reps. Cleaver and Casten, the letter was signed by Reps. Alma Adams (D-NC), Shontel Brown (D-OH), André Carson (D-IN), Troy Carter (D-LA), Jim Clyburn (D-SC), Angie Craig (D-MN), Danny Davis (D-IL), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Bill Foster (D-TN), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Jonathan Jackson (D-NC), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Sarah McBride (D-DE), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), Kelly Morrison (D-MN), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Eric Swalwell (D-MA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Marc Veasey (D-TX).
The official letter from lawmakers is available here.
Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.