Will the US and China Play Nice Together?

US and Global (China) Economies, Inside and Outside of Agriculture

Dr. Wendong Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Economics at Iowa State University since August 2015. His research seeks to better understand U.S. farmland market, agricultural water conservation, and Chinese agriculture. Dr. Zhang is also affiliated with Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), where he co-founded the new ISU China Ag center jointly with Dr. Dermot Hayes in collaboration with Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in 2017.

Dr. Zhang is the leading researcher of the Iowa Land Value Survey, the Iowa Farmland Ownership and Tenure Survey, as well as the Iowa Lakes Survey. He also serves as the Academic Vice President for ASFMRA Iowa Chapter and leads the annual ISU Soil Management and Land Valuation (SMLV) Conference.

Dr. Zhang received his Ph.D. in Agricultural, Environmental and Development Economics from the Ohio State University in July 2015, and he also hold a BSc in Environmental Science from Fudan University in China.

Let’s jump right into it!

United States net farm income – how has it compared year over year?Is this gain larger or lesser than average?How are the US export markets compared to last year and historicallyGrain ExportsMeat ExportsOther ExportsWhat does the US – China Trade relationship look like now?Did President Trump hurt or help?Did China honor their obligations?Were the tariff’s “Effective”What are your predictions for the next term (2021-2022)?What does trade policy look like under the next administration?Will it be a priority?Will tariff’s stay?Will we given in to pressure from others?In your opinion is China an indispensable trading partner for the US? For AG products?What products in general?Is there something the current administration should do in a trade agreement to make this work better in the future?Will it ever be more balanced?How is China’s economy?Do we really know?Continued individual wealth – more protein consumption?Growing Middle Class?What does it look like in the near future?AgricultureLivestock – SwineStock piles – dwindling or growing?TransportationHigh Speed RailWhat are China’s trade targets or focuses now?Are they looking for formal alliances?Are they targeting new partners?Which of the two economic power houses are currently sitting in a better position?  China or USWhy? All industries?Where is the advantageAgricultureManufacturingTechnologyWhat is your prediction on where is the US AG Economy headed?How does this compare to where have we come from?Anything else you’d like our audience to know?What, in your opinion, are the most common traits amongst the most successful farmers you have observed?SummaryChallengeClosingRemind the listener to leave a comment if this episode brought them value.  Ask them you like, leave a review where they listen, and share with their friends.  They can always send topic ideas to [email protected]