Trade war with China hurting local soybean farmers

ORLEANS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — The Feuerstein family farms 500 acres of soybeans near Belding.

But because of President Donald Trump's trade war with China, the family that has farmed for five generations is considering getting out of soybeans, at least for now.

The trade war is being felt on farms across West Michigan. Soybean farmers say they're especially hurting and hope this war ends soon.

It's simple economics: When your product's biggest buyer stops buying, you're left with a glut of product, driving down the price.

Historically, China has imported 60 percent of the soybeans produced in the U.S., which amounted to $12 billion last year alone.

But that number dropped after Beijing added a 25 percent tariff on U.S. imports in July. That was in response to new U.S. tariffs on products made in China.

In November, China imported no U.S. soybeans.

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