Ricketts, Fetterman warn China’s farmland deals pose national security threat
Republican Sen. Pete Ricketts and Democrat Sen. John Fetterman have joined forces to introduce the bipartisan Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure (AFIDA) Improvements Act. This legislation aims to address the issue of foreign countries buying American farmland, particularly in light of the growing threat posed by Communist China.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Sen. Ricketts emphasized the importance of improving oversight and disclosure when it comes to foreign ownership of agricultural land. He highlighted the need to prevent Communist China from gaining a foothold in the American agriculture sector, citing the country as the greatest geopolitical threat.
The AFIDA Improvements Act is a response to recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in January 2024, which found that the current AFIDA system was inadequate in addressing foreign ownership of American farmland. The bill seeks to enhance information-sharing between the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States and the USDA, as well as establish stricter reporting requirements for foreign investors.
Recent incidents involving Chinese nationals smuggling biological materials into the United States have raised concerns about potential agroterrorism threats. Two individuals were arrested for attempting to smuggle a fungus that could devastate crops and pose serious health risks to humans and livestock. These incidents underscore the need for increased vigilance and security measures to protect America’s food supply and national security.
Foreign investors currently own over 40 million acres of agricultural land in the United States, with Chinese ownership seeing a significant increase in recent years. Sen. Ricketts pointed out that Chinese investors have been acquiring land near sensitive military installations, raising security concerns.
The AFIDA Improvements Act would require foreign persons holding more than a 1% interest in American agricultural land to report their ownership. It also calls for updates to the AFIDA handbook, the establishment of an online reporting system, and better equipping the USDA to combat foreign adversaries’ ownership of American agricultural land.
Sen. Ricketts emphasized the urgency of addressing these threats, particularly in light of escalating conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine’s successful targeting of a Russian air base. He stressed the need to prevent American farmland from being used as a tool by adversaries to launch attacks on U.S. soil.
While the bill has yet to see significant progress in Congress, Sen. Ricketts remains committed to advancing measures to safeguard American agriculture and national security. The bipartisan collaboration between Sen. Ricketts and Sen. Fetterman reflects a shared commitment to protecting American interests from foreign threats.
