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Today, Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH5) joined Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-WA4) in introducing legislation – the Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People’s Republic of China Act – to prohibit the purchase of public or private agricultural land in the United States by foreign nationals associated with the Government of the People’s Republic of China.

“Foreign nationals associated with the Chinese Communist Party should not be investing in or purchasing American farmland – period,” Latta said. “Allowing one of our greatest adversaries to snatch up farmland is a dangerous trend that not only has national security implications but threatens the security of our food supply and harms American agriculture producers. I’m proud to join Congressman Newhouse in this effort to keep China from purchasing valuable American land, undercutting our farmers, and gaining a foothold from within our own nation.”

“The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is a threat to American democracy. The United States is engaged in a great power struggle with the CCP, and we must respond with tough policies that will protect our farmland and food supply chain,” Newhouse said. “We should be taking every action we can to strengthen our domestic production while preventing our nation's strongest adversaries from having an advantage over our supply chain. I am proud to introduce this legislation alongside many of my House colleagues to keep the CCP from gaining a foothold from within our own borders.”

Background:

· A 2018 USDA Economic Research Service report outlined that Chinese investment in the agricultural sector has grown in the last decade. Reports have also shown Chinese investors have bought farmland near military bases and other U.S. infrastructure.

· In September of 2013, the President of the People’s Republic of China and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping, announced China’s “grand political-economic project,” now known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) or Debt Trap Diplomacy. Over the last decade, President Xi has and continues to invest billions into the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

·  A 1978 federal law – the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act – requires foreign entities to report transactions of farmland to the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. The data covers years 1900 through 2016.

· Six states have laws banning foreign ownership of farmland, including Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Oklahoma State, but restrictions on Chinese land ownership can be circumvented by Chinese investors buying large U.S. corporations that own agricultural land.

· The Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People’s Republic of China Act would direct the President of the United States to take any necessary actions to prohibit the purchase of public or private agricultural land in the United States by foreign nationals associated with the Government of the People’s Republic of China. Additionally, the legislation would prohibit the same associations from participating in any United States Department of Agriculture programs except food safety inspections.

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