This week a bipartisan measure was initiated in the U.S. House of Representatives, aiming to curb the purchase of American farmland by foreign adversaries such as China.
This move is a clear reflection of the growing consensus among Democrats and Republicans about the threat posed by China to American interests.
Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and Rep. Dale Strong, R-Ala., are sponsoring the proposal. A concurrent bill was presented by three Republican senators and Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., in the Senate.
This legislative action underscores a mounting concern in Congress over the ownership of U.S. agricultural land by certain nations, a concern amplified by the current fragile state of consumer prices and supply chains.
Former CIA officer Rep. Spanberger expressed the need for careful consideration of economic investments, with a particular focus on China. “Economic investment and engagement with China is important,” she acknowledged. “But… I want to make sure we’re protecting American agriculture from our adversaries.”
The legislation aims not only to prevent individuals and corporations connected to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from acquiring U.S. agricultural land but also targets potential buyers from Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
Furthermore, it seeks to bar associates of these oppressive regimes from participating in specific programs directed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Rep. Strong underscored the necessity of the legislation, stating, “The United States can no longer turn a blind eye to the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party. This legislation is crucial to ensure our adversaries do not interfere with our food and fiber market by owning agriculture land.”
As per a Congressional Research Service report, nearly 1% of all foreign-owned U.S. agricultural land, approximately 383,935 acres, was held by China at the end of 2021. On the same note, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack disclosed to Congress in March that Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia collectively owned 400,000 acres of U.S. farmland in 2021.
However, precise knowledge of foreign ownership of U.S. farmland is still elusive due to various loopholes and inaccuracies. This ambiguity has prompted heightened vigilance from lawmakers like Rep. Spanberger, who noted reports of Beijing-backed entities attempting to buy U.S. farmland near sensitive military bases.
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Rep. Spanberger expressed concern about the possible economic repercussions of these purchases, especially in Virginia, her home state, where agriculture is a significant economic driver.
“Any large-scale purchasing of farmland by any foreign entity, but in this case the Chinese Communist Party, really could have a major impact,” she said. “It’s such a driver of our economy, that if there were to be disruptions because of the foreign government relationship and purchases, that could be a problem.”
She further clarified, “There’s value in investments coming from overseas, but certainly there’ll be a significant risk depending upon who those countries are and… the type of land that they’re buying.”
She referenced reports of CCP-backed purchasers acquiring land near military facilities in largely agricultural communities. “Maybe it’s just coincidence, maybe that land’s a good investment, but the bottom line is there’s, from my perspective, a very clear risk to that.”
Given all the problems with agricultural supply it is critically important to protect America’s farmland from foreign threat.