The talks come as the US intensifies its protectionist measures against Asian economies that have trade deficits with the US and as Donald Trump seeks a political win with American farmers, a key voting bloc ahead of midterm elections in 2026.Meanwhile, American soybeans are piling up unsold across the Midwest. For Trump, selling them abroad isn’t just a trade goal; it’s a political necessity amid signs his tariff policy is hurting US farmers.
Few commodities are as politically charged as soybeans in America. They underpin the economies of swing states like Iowa, Illinois and Indiana, whose farmers helped elect Trump in 2016 and 2024, and whose frustration cost him in 2020.
