Washington: American soybean farmers are staring at a looming disaster as China, their largest buyer, has stopped importing U.S. soybeans. Fields across the Midwest are ready for harvest, but farmers have no certainty about where their crops will go, leaving an entire sector on edge.

“This is a five-alarm fire for our industry,” said Caleb Ragland, head of the American Soybean Association.

China, which traditionally purchased at least a quarter of U.S. soybeans, imposed a 34% duty on American soybeans in May after US President Donald Trump enacted steep tariffs on Chinese goods. The retaliatory move has made South American soybeans far cheaper, effectively shutting out U.S. exports.

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Last year, nearly $24.5 billion worth of soybeans left American port

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