Trump Aims to Block China’s Growing Influence on U.S. Farms and Food Supply

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Former President Donald Trump is raising concerns over China's potential threat to American agriculture and the food supply, vowing to take action if he is reelected. During an event held at a family farm in rural Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Trump plans to address these concerns with former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin and Richard Grenell, his former ambassador to Germany, joining him. The event, hosted by the Protecting America Initiative, highlights the increasing scrutiny over China’s investments in U.S. farmland and other critical industries.

 

Trump has promised to ban Chinese nationals from buying U.S. farmland and gaining ownership of key industries such as telecommunications, energy, technology, and medical supplies if he returns to the White House. Zeldin, an advocate for the Protecting America Initiative, stated, “China’s Communist Party is threatening our food supply,” emphasizing how vulnerable American farms may be due to foreign ownership. He added, “President Trump understood this threat when he was in the White House."

 

Zeldin noted that U.S. regulations regarding foreign-owned companies purchasing farmland remain too lenient, allowing for significant foreign investment without proper oversight. “China wants us to be dependent on the supply chain,” Zeldin remarked, underscoring the concern that China could manipulate American access to essential goods.

 

The pandemic exposed the nation’s reliance on Chinese goods, especially when the country faced a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 crisis. Much of the PPE supply was manufactured in China, leading to a critical shortage in the U.S. Some healthcare workers were forced to wear trash bags in hospitals due to the lack of available protective gear. Zeldin pointed out the tragic irony, stating that America had become dependent on masks from the country where the pandemic originated, which ultimately killed millions of people around the globe.

 

Trump and the Republican Party have made addressing U.S. reliance on China a central focus of their platform, calling for "strategic independence from China." This includes revoking China’s Most Favored Nation status and phasing out imports of essential goods. Additionally, the platform advocates preventing China from acquiring U.S. real estate and key industries. “Republicans will revoke China’s Most Favored Nation status, phase out imports of essential goods, and stop China from buying American Real Estate and Industries,” the GOP platform states.

 

Zeldin warned that China’s growing investments in U.S. assets could pose significant risks, especially in terms of espionage. Chinese companies operating in the U.S. are required to comply with Chinese government regulations that mandate sharing sensitive information. This could expose critical American data to the Chinese government, deepening concerns over national security.

 

The concern over foreign influence is not new, but it continues to grow as incidents arise. Linda Sun, a former aide to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was recently charged with acting as an agent for the Chinese government, further heightening the sense of urgency to address the issue.

 

Trump's return to the political stage has reignited debates about U.S.-China relations, particularly concerning safeguarding American sovereignty in critical sectors such as agriculture and technology. His proposals aim to diminish China’s growing influence and restore what he describes as America's "strategic independence."

 

Based on a report from: NYP 2024-09-24

 

 

 

[Tug]

Funny he’s not hasn’t mentioned the Saudis they are big players especially in pumping down our aquifers in our southwest.

[jippytum]

Way to go Donald. 

China needs to be curtailed.

A similar response from Asian politicians to the domination of Chineese imports is long overdue. 

[EVENKEEL]

Sounds good to me. Soon to pass the lips of Harris.