Washington, DC (soygrowers.com) – Scott Metzger, President of the American Soybean Association (ASA) and an Ohio farmer, testified before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) regarding a Section 301 hearing. His testimony highlighted the precarious balance between trade enforcement and agricultural stability.
Key Takeaways:
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Economic Impact: Soybeans are the top U.S. agricultural export. In the 2024–2025 marketing year, 58% of production (68.7 million metric tons) was exported, totaling $29.6 billion in value.
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Retaliation Fears: Metzger cited the 2017–2018 trade dispute, which saw a 76% collapse in export value to China, warning that new broad tariffs could trigger similar devastating retaliation.
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Cost of Production: Beyond market access, Metzger noted that farmers rely on global supply chains for essential inputs like fertilizer and seed. Sweeping tariffs could raise these costs, squeezing farmers who are already facing economic pressure.
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Proposed Solutions: The ASA is urging the USTR to:
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Adopt a targeted approach rather than broad remedies.
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Expand exemptions for critical agricultural inputs.
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Exempt Canada and Mexico to maintain North American trade stability.
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Metzger’s primary concern is that aggressive trade actions could inadvertently “set back ongoing negotiations” and lead to a permanent loss of market share in China.