Minnesota governor, Kansas rep criticize Trump over trade war’s impact on soy farmers

Soybeans are harvested in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, on Oct. 2, 2025. (Photo by Rob Levine/Minnesota Reformer)

President Donald Trump’s trade war is having devastating consequences for soybean farmers, and Gov. Tim Walz joined other national Democratic leaders on a call Tuesday to highlight the story of one Illinois farmer whose business model is under threat from tariffs and international retaliation.

“It’s going to take us years to get these markets back,” Walz said Tuesday, calling on Trump to walk back his tariffs. 

China is the world’s largest consumer of soybeans, and the biggest international buyer of American soy, historically importing around one-quarter of the soybeans grown in the U.S. But in the aftermath of the trade war during Trump’s first term, China has instead become dependent on Brazilian soybeans.

In response to taxes Trump levied on American imports from China, China slapped an extra tax of 20% on American soybeans — giving a major price advantage to Brazil and other countries in the market. 

China typically begins buying American soy in October, but with the tariffs in place, farmers are facing an uncertain outlook. 

The Trump administration is considering a multibillion dollar bailout for American soy farmers, similar to how his administration handled the first trade war.

But soy farmers have insisted that a check won’t make up for the lost marketing opportunities. 

“We don’t want a bailout. We want markets for our crops,” said John Bartman, a corn and soybean farmer in Illinois. 

Bartman is featured in a new Democratic political ad, part of a new ad campaign targeting red districts in the Midwest. 

Tuesday’s press call coincided with Trump’s meeting with Argentina’s President Javier Milei. Trump has promised a $20 billion bailout of Argentina’s economy — which stands to benefit many Trump administration allies — drawing even more ire from the soybean industry and some Republicans. 

Hours after Trump announced the bailout, Argentina sold 20 shiploads of soybeans to China, and leaders opted to waive an export tax that effectively lowered the cost of the beans.

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, who sits on the House Committee on Agriculture, said on Tuesday’s call that Democrats should spend more time in rural communities discussing farm economy issues. 

“We also need to send the message to the president that these chaotic tariffs, this reckless approach, this whiplash that people are feeling, is having real consequences,” Davids said.