Iowan farmers to visit China amid trade spat

A delegation of soybean farmers from Iowa will next week travel to China in a bid to smooth over trade relations with China amid fears of an escalating trade spat with the US.

Led by the Iowa Soybean Association president, Bill Shipley, the delegation will meet with the US ambassador and key officials from soybean processors and feed companies, the ISA said in a release Thursday.

Iowa is a key soybean producing state, with some 42,000 soybean farmers producing 562 million bushels (15.3 million mt) of the oilseed at a value of more than $5 billion last year.

While the trade delegation was arranged late last year, the soybean association said it was a key time to visit China as farmers are concerned that President Trump’s threat to tax technology and telecommunication imports could prompt China to tax US imports of soybean.

"Iowa soybean farmers… have developed strong relationships with Chinese soybean buyers, industry representatives and the Chinese government," Shipley said.

"We’re committed to maintaining these relationships while navigating these unsettled times. Our time in China will offer the opportunity to share this important message personally."

The trade delegation departed Friday and will last for nine days.