China junks limits on import of US soybeans and pork for now

Chinese consumers are not happy about higher prices and decreased supplies of food. Yesterday, Chinese buyers snapped up "at least 10 boatloads of soybeans," according to Reuters, as the U.S.-China trade war showed signs of compromise. The South China Morning Post reports:

Beijing will allow Chinese businesses to purchase a "certain amount of farm products such as soybeans and pork" from the United States, according to the Xinhua report. "China's market is big enough and there's great potential to import high-quality US farm products."

The official Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday that China's National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce made the exemption in response to the US' decision of postpone an increase in the tariff rate on $250 billion of Chinese goods from October 1 to October 15.

It comes after US President Donald Trump spoke on Thursday of the possibility of an "interim trade deal" over the coming weeks.
It added that Chinese authorities hoped that "the US will honour its word and fulfil its promises to create favourable conditions for cooperation for the two countries in the agriculture sector".

A two-week delay in higher U.S. tariffs and vague mention of a "possibility" led China to take a move that created a surge in U.S. exports to China. Gordon Change sees this as indicating China's lack of leverage:

#China exempting US pork and soy from additional tariffs: https://t.co/CjTzzTVqZ6. Why? It absolutely has to. Soaring food prices risk protests. Let the Chinese make even more #trade concessions. These arrogant communists need to know that we know they have no bargaining power.— Gordon G. Chang (@GordonGChang) September 13, 2019

China has no choice but to exempt American agricultural products.

An epidemic of African Swine Fever is sweeping through China’s hog farms, and the effects are rippling across the globe, because China is a superpower of pork. Half of the world’s pigs live in China — or at least they did before the epidemic began a year ago.

“Every day, we hear of more outbreaks,” says Christine McCracken, a senior analyst at RaboResearch, which is affiliated with the global financial firm Rabobank.

McCracken and her colleagues now estimate that by the end of 2019, China’s production of pork could be cut in half. “That’s roughly 300 million to 350 million pigs lost in China, which is almost a quarter of the world’s pork supply,” she says. “It’s a massive number.” (This measures the reduction in pigs slaughtered annually, which is roughly twice the number of animals in China’s swine herd at any one time.)

I don’t care whether they buy our soybeans or starve, there will always be a buyer for every soybean we grow, whether for food, feed, or fuel.

China tried sneaking some of its infested pig meat into the US a week ago, hidden in containers of noodles. Keep that crap up and the tariffs should double to pay for 200% inspection of every container. Dumbasses need to learn they are not going to win this fight and cut their losses.

Two comments. I lived in Hong Kong and we had to avoid Chinese pork and chicken products routinely... like every other month.

Secondly, I worked on a hot farm and breeder. It takes exactly 4 months from breeding, birth/gestation and finishing to make bacon. Thus, given a female Sal population to breed it would or should not take more than 3-6 months to recover. Chickens are a similar timeframe from incubation, sorting spots and finishing meat or laying population’s.

China’s problem is in sanitary conditions and law enforcement of agriculture standards.

I could could fly to China today and turn those two situations into world class competition crushing economic sectors in 9 months... But I would harm American farm families and own extended family.

China is getting a double whammy from Asian Swine Fever which may end up killing half of their pigs and the armyworm infestation that is killing their corn yields. That’s a problem in a country where pork is the main source of protein. I don’t care whether they buy our soybeans or starve, there will always be a buyer for every soybean we grow, whether for food, feed, or fuel. China tried sneaking some of its infested pig meat into the US a week ago, hidden in containers of noodles. Keep that crap up and the tariffs should double to pay for 200% inspection of every container. Dumbasses need to learn they are not going to win this fight and cut their losses.

Partner, the CEO's of American companies have a lot to explain on our preferred supplier partner ships to the American Populace.

Partner, the "Giant Sixth Grade Brain Wall Streeters" want the U.S. to continue the supplier partnerships with the Chicoms because the Wall Streeter say that the Ginnie is out of the Bottle. We say a big "Bravo Sierra" to that line of thinking since we are looking out for the "American Patriot Worker.

Once again, I will say this at the top of my lungs, the Chicoms are Stealing, Cheating and Copying American Technology since they can get it free without any penalties. How stupid is that???

The CEO's of American companies have a lot to explain!!! How about the Board of Directors of these companies. They must be that Dumb of just plain Stupid but they are earning big bucks by just being on a Board of Directors!!!

It really pains me to write the last 2 statements. We are so teed off by these American companies to sell even the Kitchen sinks to these non appreciating Chicoms, who steal American technology without any repercussions. They want to rule over the U.S., since they have this in their 5 year plan or 10 year plan.

Heck, I was getting my pharmacy B.P. drugs from Wal Mart and they were made in China of all places. I told the lady receptionist that I did not want my drugs coming out of Chicom land or I will change my pharmacy. She probably did not care what I said but I really meant it so I took my business else where.

[Heck, I was getting my pharmacy B.P. drugs from Wal Mart and they were made in China of all places. I told the lady receptionist that I did not want my drugs coming out of Chicom land or I will change my pharmacy. She probably did not care what I said but I really meant it so I took my business else where.]

Out of curiosity, was it atenolol? Where did you end up going?

Here’s an article on the subject: https://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-drugs-country-of-origin-20180515-story.html

Partner, Thanks for this great article on our pharmacy drugs and where they are made.

We have greater problems than we ever thought on this supplier partnerships. We the people want our products made in the USA and we do not want to die from the Chicoms, Indians, or anybody else in the world. We want these drugs made in the USA.

I would behoove President Trump to mention this little fact to us Americans. Plus, it would make "We the People" feel more like he really is on our side not that his already.

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