As Republicans and Democrats grapple with China’s influence over U.S. agriculture and food supply, many of the lawmakers now addressing those issues are facing a complicated decision: Whether to take money from one of China’s largest state-owned agricultural companies or whether to return it.
Syngenta, which produces seeds and chemicals for agricultural use, reported over $32 billion in sales for 2023. But the company is owned by Chinese state-owned enterprise Sinochem, and many lawmakers are expressing concerns about China’s “increasing dominance” over U.S. farming. (Syngenta was actually fined $280,000 in Arkansas last October for failure to report foreign ownership in a timely manner.)
Over the past five election cycles, however, Syngenta’s corporate and employee PACs have funneled around $1.2 million to congressional campaigns and leadership PACs. About $290,000 of that came this cycle, with roughly $250,000 directed to Republicans. For many of the candidates who have taken money from Syngenta before, they’re now seeing even higher donations this time cycle. And while some lawmakers are giving the money back, most are keeping it for their campaigns.