China halts U.S. soybean purchases: Food security becomes a multi-layered tool of economic leverage

China ceased purchasing American soy in May 2025, and in September 2025, supplies fell to zero for the first time in seven years amid the imposition of corresponding tariffs and escalation of trade tensions.

The cessation of purchases of American soy created a revenue deficit for American farmers amounting to $12.6 billion, leading to significant financial pressure and a drop in prices across the entire US soy market.

China’s decisions demonstrated the formation of a new concept of economic pressure, in which China uses food as a lever of negotiating power capable of influencing the political behavior of the United States.