Thursday, October 16, 2025-President Donald Trump has vowed to target China’s cooking oil trade, claiming Beijing’s recent cutbacks on U.S. soybean purchases amount to “economic warfare.”
He suggested the U.S. could end all imports related to cooking oil as part of a tougher trade stance, promising to “put America’s farmers first.” The comments reignited talk of a renewed trade confrontation between Washington and Beijing, but analysts say the move may be largely symbolic.
Trade data shows that sales were already collapsing long before Trump’s announcement. Chinese exports of used cooking oil to the U.S. have dropped by more than 65% this year, falling from $1.1 billion in 2024 to roughly $287 million.
Shipments have shrunk to just under 300,000 metric tons, as American buyers increasingly shift to suppliers in Europe and South America. Economists note that the U.S. relies little on China for cooking oil imports, meaning the proposed restrictions would have minimal direct impact.
Financial markets briefly reacted to Trump’s comments, with shares of major agricultural firms like Bunge Global and Archer Daniels Midland ticking higher. Still, trade experts view the move as more political than practical, aimed at reinforcing Trump’s “America First” message ahead of campaign season.
While the rhetoric may stoke tensions, the real battle between the world’s two largest economies continues to revolve around far larger industries from technology to energy not kitchen commodities.
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