Michigan Food & Agriculture

Soybean farmers are on the front line of the brewing trade war

Michigan Public | By Stateside Staff

Published April 5, 2018 at 4:23 PM EDT

Maurer said soybeans put $1.76 billion into Michigan's economy, and account for 14,000 jobs in the state.

Stateside's conversation with Kathy Maurer, financial and international marketing director for the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee.

China is America's biggest soybean customer, to the tune of $14 billion last year.

Michigan is a major soybean producer, which means farmers in the state are on the front line of this brewing trade war.

Kathy Maurer with the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committeejoined Stateside today to explain how the threat of a 25 percent tariff has impacted America’s soybean farmers, and what those farmers hope will result from negotiations between Beijing and Washington. She also explains the ripple effect Michigan’s economy could see should a trade war ensue.(Subscribe to the Stateside podcast oniTunes,Google Play, or with thisRSS link)