As President Trump prepares to meet with President Xi in the coming days, agriculture will once again be part of a much larger conversation about trade, global stability, and economic competition. The media is predicting the main discussion will focus on aircraft, rare-earth minerals, semiconductors, and the Strait of Hormuz. In agriculture circles, pundits are suggesting discussions will likely focus on soybeans and beef – and understandably so – but wheat growers also have a great deal at stake whenever the United States and China sit down at the negotiating table.
China has historically represented a significant opportunity for U.S. wheat. At various points, American wheat enjoyed a strong reputation in Chinese markets because of its quality, reliability, and consistency. Over time, however, geopolitical tensions, shifting trade relationships, and aggressive competition from other exporting countries eroded portions of the U.S. market share. Rebuilding and expanding access for U.S. wheat remains an important opportunity.
At the same time, broader global pressures continue to weigh heavily on the farm economy. Ongoing logistical disruptions and commercial uncertainty in the Strait of Hormuz continue to impact global fuel and fertilizer markets. Those ripple effects quickly land at the farm gate in the form of stubbornly high diesel prices, sky high fertilizer costs, and continued uncertainty around inputs.
This is why stability matters. We can manage risk, weather, and market cycles – but prolonged geopolitical turbulence creates uncertainty that is difficult to plan around. A productive meeting between U.S. and Chinese leaders has the potential to improve broader market confidence, ease some pressure in global commerce, and create a more predictable environment for agriculture. While no single meeting solves every issue, constructive engagement between major global powers matters to American farmers.
NAWG continues to work closely with Congress and the Administration on policies to address rising input costs and improve the long-term business environment for wheat growers. This includes ongoing conversations about fertilizer availability, supply chain reliability, energy costs, and regulatory certainty.
We also continue to emphasize the importance of finishing a long-term Farm Bill. A strong Farm Bill provides certainty at a time when agriculture desperately needs it. From risk management tools and research funding to conservation programs and market development, the Farm Bill remains one of the most important ways Congress can provide stability for farm families navigating difficult economic conditions.
NAWG is currently focused on building bipartisan momentum in the U.S. Senate to move the Farm Bill process forward. Wheat growers need more than short-term extensions and temporary fixes. We need long-term certainty to enable decisions for making investments, managing risk, and planning for the future with confidence.
We’re also telling the story of why the Countervailing Duties on Russian and Moroccan phosphates need to end. And we’re gearing up to weigh-in on the proposed Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern rail merger. Finally, we continue to urge lawmakers to deliver much-needed economic assistance to farm county because of several years of inflation, tariffs, market turmoil, logistical logjams, and harsh weather.
Agriculture works best when markets are functioning, trade relationships are stable, and policymakers focus on practical solutions. Wheat growers have endured several years of farming in red ink – from supply chain disruptions and inflation to geopolitical instability and rising costs. The need – now – is not more turbulence, but greater predictability and stronger, more reliable partnerships.