Part 6/16:
A significant portion of U.S. agriculture depends on export markets. For instance, nearly half of all U.S. soybeans have historically been shipped to China, a key and vulnerable trading partner. Recent trade disagreements and tariffs have disrupted these markets, exposing U.S. farmers to risks of losing long-established foreign outlets. Bloomberg’s Harvey Blas notes that reversals in U.S. agricultural trade are likely structural, driven by increased imports of certain crops to satisfy year-round consumer demand and decreasing exports, especially to China, due to policy shifts.