American Soybean Association Past President Josh Gackle, who farms at Kulm, North Dakota, testified before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative during its review the 2020 U.S.–China Phase One Agreement. The hearing was part of a Section 301 investigation examining whether China fully followed through on the deal. “When trade breaks down, soybean farmers are the first to feel it,” Gackle said, adding that the last trade war led to a 76 percent drop in soybean export value to China and cost U.S. agriculture more than $27 billion. He warned that new tariffs could again trigger retaliation and deepen uncertainty for farmers already facing tight margins.
