KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Guetterman Brothers Farm plants thousands of acres of corn, wheat, and soybeans.
Like farmers all over the country, they're watching and waiting to see what happens with tough tariff talk between the United States and China.
"I would be ignorant to say that it was not a concern. Yes, the tariffs are a concern," Nick Guetterman said. "Then other countries' products will have an advantage to our products in their market."
On Wednesday, China announced a 25 percent tariff on some American goods including soybeans.
"I can remember many other days when the market was down because China canceled contracts when there was no tariff on soybeans. So China likes to manipulate our marketplace. I think our current administration is trying to make them play fair so we’ll see if their tactics work," Nick shared.
Right now, China buys 60 percent of American soybean exports. Ted Guetterman thinks, "There would be a significant downturn in our market, in the price of soybeans if we lose them."
Kansas and Missouri are among the biggest soybean producers in the country. Ted says losing Chinese business would be a big loss here at home.
"Well, I hope they keep buying our soybeans and it’ll all get worked out. It’s early in the game yet. We’re just in the first quarter," he said.
