House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02), Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) led a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, seeking clarification over inconsistencies in public statements made by several Trump officials regarding the details of the alleged soybean trade deal with China.

After first promising to return U.S. soybean exports to China to levels last seen under the Biden administration by December 2025, senior White House officials cast doubt on that deadline and made inconsistent comments to the public.

The lawmakers write, “After an entire year of eroding market access for American soybeans, the administration touted a minimum of 12 million metric tons of sales to China by the end of 2025 as success. This represents only 44.7 percent of 2024’s soybean exports to China and is already woefully short of what our growers need.”

They continue, “During the first Trump administration, U.S. soybean exports to China fell from a record high 36 million metric tons to less than 9 million metric tons. [...] China has yet to purchase what the administration and you personally have promised to farmers. As of December 12, the last known purchase, China has purchased 29 percent of the total announced commitment."

The letter was also signed by U.S. Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Eugene Vindman (VA-07) and April McClain Delaney (MD-06).