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KS - March 4 2025

China tariffs hit U.S. farms; Canada, Mexico tariffs also take effect; Crop prices drop in trade war; Wichita schools rethink bond; High winds ravage Kansas

Greg Loving

04 Mar 2025 • 6 min read

China Slaps Tariffs on U.S. Farm Goods, Halts Soybean Imports

Canada and Mexico Tariffs Compound Trade Dispute, beef impacted

Crop Prices Fall as China Retaliates in Trade Spat

Wichita Schools Plan Next Steps After $450 Million Bond Fails

High Winds Tear Through Kansas, Closing Roads and Toppling Trees

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1. China Slaps Tariffs on U.S. Farm Goods, Halts Soybean Imports

China will impose tariffs on a slew of US farm products as part of its countermeasures against Washington, threatening to disrupt a major portion of trade between the two agricultural powerhouses. While the full list of measures from Beijing on Tuesday indicated some restraint, the breadth of farming targets was far-reaching, touching commodities from beef and poultry to grains. China also announced a complete suspension of soybean imports from three US entities and halted purchases of American logs. The government warned earlier in the week, through the state-run Global Times, that agricultural products would be caught in trade crossfire. Its latest moves include additional 10% duties on imports of soybeans starting March 10. Sorghum, pork and beef will also incur new 10% tariffs, while 15% levies will be slapped on US chicken, wheat, corn and cotton, according to a statement.
Source: Bloomberg

2. Canada and Mexico Tariffs Compound Trade Dispute, beef impacted

“It’s a negative for pork and beef, but China wasn’t going to buy much corn or soybeans from us for the next six to eight months anyway,” said Arlan Suderman, chief commodities economist at StoneX. “Argentina and Brazil’s supplies are cheaper, thanks for foreign exchange rates, and that will likely be the case until those supplies run out late this year.” China’s retaliation, which includes some of America’s most valuable agricultural exports to the Asian nation, comes as the US raised tariffs on China to 20% and introduced 25% duties on most Canadian and Mexican imports. Canada also hit back at President Donald Trump, retaliating against about $107 billion worth of US products, including a wide range of food products from meat and dairy to candy. Mexico plans to make an announcement on Sunday. “I anticipate that we’ll see a few cargoes dropped at some point to get some headline impact,” Suderman said. “But there is only about 1 million tons of unshipped soybeans still on the books at this point.” Cargoes shipped before March 10 and imported before April 12 won’t incur the additional tariffs, according to the Chinese government statement.

Editors note: KS produces 25-30% of the US’s wheat, 25% of it beef, 5% of its corn, and lesser amounts of soybeans
Source: Bloomberg

3. Crop Prices Fall as China Retaliates in Trade Spat

Soybean futures for May delivery fell as much as 2% to $9.91 a bushel, the lowest for a most-active contract since January. China is the world’s largest buyer of the commodity, used to make cooking oil and animal feed. Corn for the same month fell as much as 3% to $4.425 a bushel, the lowest for a most-active contract since December. Wheat also declined, while cotton futures in New York slumped as much as 4.5% to the lowest since the height of the pandemic in 2020. Agricultural markets were caught in the crosshairs of the US-China trade war during Trump’s first term, with Beijing imposing tariffs as high as 25% on American farm products including soybeans. US soybean sales fell almost 80% during a two-year period. This time around, though, China has diversified its purchases and it can mostly live off soybean imports from South America. There’s also very little in outstanding sales of US soy that’s still to be shipped to China, according to data from the US Department of Agriculture. Some of these sales could be canceled. “This doesn’t look like a full-scale trade war just yet, but it could be heading that way,” said Kang Wei Cheang, an agriculture broker at StoneX in Singapore. “China’s actions suggest they want to keep things from spiraling out of control, but the real question is whether the US is willing to negotiate. If no deal is reached, this could drag out into a much larger economic conflict.”
Source: Bloomberg

4. Wichita Schools Plan Next Steps After $450 Million Bond Fails

The Wichita public school district has provided some insight into its next steps after last week’s failed $450 million bond vote. The proposal lost by 1 percent of the vote. In a budget presentation to school board members Monday night, Chief Financial Officer Addi Lowell said the district will host a focus group this month with people who voted in the bond issue election and also distribute a survey for community members. Feedback from engagement efforts and the committee will help the district and school board decide its next steps, which some on the Vote Yes campaign signaled earlier could mean a smaller bond issue vote. More specifics on how the district will move forward after it gathers feedback aren’t likely until later this summer.
Source: Kansas.com

5. High Winds Tear Through Kansas, Closing Roads and Toppling Trees

Storm Team 12 says winds will pick up throughout the day on Tuesday across Kansas, but some parts of the state are already dealing with the impact. A High Wind Warning remains in effect into the evening. The National Weather Service in Dodge City said there have already been multiple reports of more than 60 mph, including a 71 mph gust outside of Lakin. UPDATE 3:15 p.m. - U.S. 50 is closed between KS-25 (near Lakin) and US-83 due to a crash and because of blowing dust north of Garden City. Hurricane force winds ripped through the area Tuesday afternoon ripping roofs off buildings, snapping trees and power poles and tipping over semis. A gust of 84 mph was registered at the Garden City Regional Airport. Drivers are advised to stay off the roads until the winds die down.

Kearny County Fire Rescue Facebook

Source: KWCH

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