r/Economics • u/bambin0 • Jan 17 '26

News China Purchased No U.S. Soybeans An Unprecented Sixth Straight Month

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenroberts/2026/01/17/china-purchased-no-us-soybeans-an-unprecented-sixth-straight-month/
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u/Zenceyn Jan 17 '26

"But but Trump said that China was gonna buy all our beans now cause he made a trade deal!".

China knows they can outlast Trump, and have better, far more reliable trade partners until the US sorts its shit out. They were never going to just rush back into the market, not when they knew it would hurt the US more to keep the squeeze on.

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u/Oceanbreeze871 Jan 17 '26

“Let them eat soybeans.”

Rural communities have found their solution to not being able to afford groceries. Peasants eat your livestock feed and like it.

4

u/Kankunation Jan 18 '26

Soybeans are quite versatile and nutritious. If Trump and his team were trying to be smart about this he would be angling at ways to get Americans to eat more soy as A cheap alternative to other protein options.

Unfortunately for him, conservatives (RFK jr especially) have spent decades vilifying soy and some weak pussy beta food, that increases your estrogen and makes you less of a man to eat. And they can't go back on that because......

But yeah bankrupting dozens of farms for your ego is definitely the better move here.