Democrats in the US Senate charged that President Donald Trump‘s tariff policies have given China power in global agriculture while raising domestic grocery costs, so exacerbating the crises of farm and food affordability.

Democrats claimed that Trump’s trade battle with Beijing had severely reduced US export markets and put American farmers in financial jeopardy in a new report titled “Trump’s Broken Promises: Devastating America’s Farmers and Working Families.”

China, which used to be a significant consumer of US soybeans, reportedly halted purchasing in response to Trump’s tariffs. China purchased US soybeans for $3 billion in 2024. Trump’s tariffs forced China to switch from US markets to Argentina and Brazil in 2025, and since then, resuming purchases have decreased by 32%.

It also states that farmers have “no assurance about what to plant in the future year” and are starting a new growing year with excess commodities they cannot sell.

Concerns about foreign influence on the US food system were raised in the report. It states that with a quarter of the pork processing industry in the US, Smithfield Foods, which is owned by China’s WH Group, holds a commanding lead.

ChemChina, a Chinese state-owned company, “owns Syngenta Group, a key provider of agricultural chemicals and seeds, giving China control over major inputs for America’s farmers.”

Democrats contend that Trump’s domestic policies have made matters worse in light of this.

American farmers and ranchers are facing severe financial hardship as a result of Donald Trump’s tariffs. Prices are going up. Senator Maria Cantwell declared, “Markets are closing.” “The President is unconcerned. But it is time to see if Republicans are concerned about the rural towns they represent.

According to the survey, over the past year, the cost of beef has increased by 16.4%, coffee by 19.8%, lettuce by 7.3%, and frozen fish by 8.6%. According to the report, during Trump’s first year in office, American families spent $310 more on groceries.

Senator Ben Ray Lujan stated, “Behind every number is a family, a senior, a veteran, or a working family striving to make ends meet.” “Families are under pressure from all sides.”

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer stated: “On ‘day one,’ Trump pledged to lower rates. However, American households face the unpleasant truth that Trump has sold out customers out of loyalty to special interests when they visit the grocery store.

According to the report, the problem has gotten worse due to market consolidation in the meatpacking and seed industries. Farmers “keep just 15.9 cents of every dollar spent on food,” according to the report. It also mentions that “315 farmers filed for bankruptcy in 2025, a more than 46% rise from the previous year.”

“Unpredictable trade policies and corporate mergers are squeezing family farmers on one end and consumers on the other,” stated Rob Larew, president of the National Farmers Union.

Economic tensions between the US and China have long revolved on the tariff and agricultural export issue. Particularly in Midwestern areas where export markets are vital to farm revenues, soybeans have frequently been used as a political barometer.

In the US, food inflation has also emerged as a key domestic political problem. Despite Congress’ continued disagreements over tariffs, antitrust enforcement, and the future course of U.S. trade policy, both parties are concerned about the rising cost of groceries and farm bankruptcies.