Trump threatens to ban used cooking oil imports from China amid trade tensions

Recently, US President Donald Trump threatened to stop importing used cooking oil from China, claiming that Beijing was acting “economically hostile” by deliberately stopping buying US soybeans.

The US threatens to stop importing used cooking oil from China in response to the "soybean trade war" - Photo: REUTERS

Speaking on the social network Truth Social on October 14, US President Donald Trump said he is considering ending trade with China related to cooking oil and some other areas as a retaliatory measure.

“America can easily produce cooking oil itself, without having to buy it from them (China),” Mr. Trump affirmed.

Used cooking oil from China is bought back by the US and recycled into biofuels. Used cooking oil has become Beijing’s main export, reaching a record high in 2024, with the US accounting for 43% of purchases, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

However, trade between the two countries fell sharply by the end of 2024, after Beijing abolished export tax rebates, making this item a focus of controversy in Washington's renewable energy policy, according to Bloomberg News.

In 2024, the administration of former President Joe Biden restricted the flow of cheap foreign cooking oil by eliminating tax incentives for biofuels made from imported oil.

After returning to the White House, President Trump continued this approach to protect soybean farmers - who believe that cooking oil imports from China have caused a decline in demand for American soybeans.

American farmers are under great pressure due to falling agricultural prices, while China continues to avoid buying American soybeans, switching to importing from Brazil and Argentina.

Despite the Trump administration’s pledge of financial support, many farmers say they want a stable trade deal with Beijing rather than temporary bailouts.

President Trump's new threat comes just weeks before a planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, as the world's two largest economies continue to trade barbs with tariffs, rare earth controls and new port fees.

According to Nikkei Asia , some experts warn that tensions surrounding a seemingly small item like recycled cooking oil reflect the fragility of US-China trade relations, which could easily erupt into a full-blown confrontation.

“If our biggest threat is to ban Chinese cooking oil, Beijing will see that as a sign of weakness,” said Rush Doshi of Georgetown University.

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UYEN PHUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ong-trump-doa-cam-nhap-dau-an-da-qua-su-dung-cua-trung-quoc-giua-cang-thang-thuong-mai-20251015131034019.htm