Since the U.S. and China imposed tit-for-tat tariffs during a trade war during Donald Trump’s first presidential term, Beijing has taken steps to reduce its reliance on American farm goods in a wider effort to bolster its food security.
That means China can wield the billions it still spends each year on U.S. agricultural products as a weapon in the escalating trade war in Trump’s second term with less risk to its own food security.
China’s finance ministry said on Tuesday it would impose additional tariffs of between 10% and 15% on agricultural products ranging from soybeans and corn to dairy and beef after Trump hit China with another round of tariffs.
The following details China’s efforts since the start of its trade war with the U.S. to diversify agriculture supply sources, boost local production and bolster food security:
August 5, 2019: China halts purchases of U.S. agricultural products in retaliation against tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
January 16, 2020: Trump and China’s then-Vice Premier Liu He sign a “Phase 1” trade agreement where China agrees to raise purchases of American goods by $200 billion over two years, including $32 billion in agriculture products.
2021: China launches commercial trial planting for genetically-modified corn and soybeans.
April 29, 2021: China adopts anti-food waste law to prevent grain wastage and bans binge-eating videos and excessive leftovers.
February 1, 2022: U.S. trade official says China failed to meet its commitments under the “Phase 1” trade deal that expired at the end of 2021. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack tells lawmakers that China’s purchases of U.S. farm goods fell short by about $13 billion.
February 4, 2022: China allows imports of wheat and barley from all regions of Russia, the world’s biggest wheat exporter.
March 7, 2022: President Xi Jinping tells political advisers: “China must rely on self-reliance and feed itself … If we can’t hold our own rice bowls, we will be controlled by others … Food security is a strategic issue.”
May 25, 2022: China allows imports of Brazilian corn.
April 14, 2023: In bid to curb soybean imports, China rolls out plan to reduce soymeal ratios in animal feed to less than 13% by 2025, from 14.5% in 2022. It plans to approve microbial proteins for feed and pilot projects to use leftover food and animal carcasses for animal feed.
May 4, 2023: China approves a variety of gene-edited soybeans, its first approval of the technology to boost yields. Unlike gene-modification (GMO), gene-editing does not introduce foreign DNA, instead it manipulates the existing natural genome.
December 26, 2023: China issues licences to a first batch of 26 seed companies to produce and sell genetically modified corn and soybean seeds in certain provinces.
April 9, 2024: China launches drive to boost grain production by over 50 million metric tons by 2030.
May 28, 2024: China allows imports of two varieties of genetically-modified corn grown in Argentina, the world’s third-largest exporter of the animal feed grain.
June 3, 2024: China’s first food security law aimed at achieving “absolute self-sufficiency” in staple grains and food production comes into effect.
The law holds central and provincial governments accountable for incorporating food security into their economic and development plans, including protection of farmland from conversion to other uses.
October 25, 2024: China launches a 2024-2028 action plan to accelerate development of smart farming and precision agriculture to raise food output.
November 2024: China’s agriculture imports from the U.S. in January-November 2024 fell 14% to $26 billion compared to the same period in 2023, down for a second year.
November 6, 2024: Donald Trump elected U.S. president in stunning comeback.
December 13, 2024: China’s 2024 total grain production reached a record of 706.5 million metric tons, predominantly due to a record corn harvest.
December 24, 2024: China launched a 2024-2035 plan to raise consumption of cereal grains by promoting the health benefits and improving production quality.
December 31, 2024: China issued guidance for the aquaculture industry to use non-grain feeds such as microbial protein and aims to reduce feed consumed per unit of produced animal product by more than 7% by 2030 from 2023 levels.