Bipartisan Bill Aims to Secure US Agriculture Supply Chains from China

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by Senators Pete Ricketts and Elissa Slotkin, has introduced the Securing American Agriculture Act to protect U.S. agricultural supply chains from threats posed by China. The legislation aims to reduce reliance on Chinese imports, which include critical agricultural inputs like fertilizers and vitamins, essential for food production. The bill mandates the Department of Agriculture to conduct annual assessments of supply chain vulnerabilities and to recommend strategies to bolster domestic production. Lawmakers emphasize that the loss of access to these inputs could lead to increased food prices and jeopardize food security in the U.S. Supporters argue that understanding the U.S. dependency on Chinese agricultural goods is crucial for national security. This initiative aligns with growing concerns over China's strategic control of vital sectors in the U.S. food supply chain.