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Soybean leader cautious as China imposes its own tariffs against the U.S.

An American Soybean Association official is cautiously optimistic about China’s decision not to impose tariffs on U.S. soybeans.

Davie Stephens is ASA’s Vice President says, “They might not be going for it, but we might be going for it.  What’s the long game here?” Stephens tells Brownfield they are still concerned about what China might do as retaliation for U.S. tariffs on Chinese products.  “The soybean growers and farmers across the nation, you know, first and foremost are in our thoughts about what’s going to happen with this, and there’s just so much uncertainty, we just want to make sure we’re at the forefront of taking the stand for what farmers need.”

Stephens says ASA leaders were in Washington last week and discussed this and other issues with Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue.  Stephens says any soybean tariffs will make it hard for producers, but they’re resilient.  “We’re resilient like a soybean can be.  We will withstand whatever is thrown at us and we hope to move forward with whatever is in front of us.  It’s tough sometimes, it’s tough a lot of times, but we’ll be resilient and go forward with it.”

Stephens says he’s had several phone calls from neighboring farmers in western Kentucky who are wondering what to expect from the trade fallout.