U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to halt cooking oil imports from China following Beijing’s decision to stop buying American soybeans, escalating tensions in the ongoing trade dispute between the two nations.

Trump labeled China’s soybean boycott as an “economically hostile act” on Truth Social, emphasizing that the U.S. can easily produce cooking oil domestically and does not rely on Chinese imports. Soybeans remain the top U.S. agricultural export, valued at $24.5 billion in 2024, with over half purchased by China, according to the American Soybean Association (ASA). Major soybean-producing states include Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana.

The Chinese pivot to buying soybeans from Brazil and Argentina has put American farmers under significant financial strain. ASA President Caleb Ragland expressed disappointment after a planned U.S.-China meeting on the issue was canceled, saying it could have restored U.S. soybean exports.

In addition to soybeans, the U.S. imported about 1.27 million metric tons of used cooking oil from China in 2024, accounting for roughly 43% of China’s total exports of the product, according to the USDA. Trump’s warning signals potential retaliation amid broader trade disputes, including tariffs. He previously hinted at a possible 100% tariff on all Chinese imports, an increase from the existing 30% tariffs imposed earlier this year.

Despite a previously scheduled discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping in early October, Trump has expressed frustration over China’s trade restrictions, including rare earth mineral exports. He stressed that while he maintains a “great relationship” with Xi, China “sometimes takes advantage of people,” underscoring the unpredictable nature of U.S.-China trade relations.

The developments highlight mounting pressures on U.S. farmers and the broader agricultural sector, while signaling that trade tensions with China are far from resolved, with potential impacts on global commodity markets.