Somewhere in the internet void, a Youtuber’s already making a thumbnail that says: “EXPOSED: Trump’s Ban on Chinese Oil = MAGA Nonstick Pan Drop Incoming.”

President Donald Trump is back on the trade war beat… and this time, he’s threatening to ban (shakes head out of disbelief) Chinese cooking oil. I guess you could say he’s tired of greasing China’s wheels.

After Beijing stopped buying U.S. soybeans, Trump accused China of committing an “Economically Hostile Act”... which, if you read just those three words you would think China vowed to stop sending us pharmaceuticals and Chinese made American flags… but no, he was talking about oil.

(Source: USA Today)

He took to Truth Social (where punctuation goes to die) to announce: “We are considering terminating business with China having to do with Cooking Oil… As an example, we can easily produce Cooking Oil ourselves.” Trump’s logic: China won’t buy our beans, so we’re cutting off their grease.

But here’s where it gets funny… trade in cooking oil between the U.S. and China has already collapsed. Specifically, we’re talking about used cooking oil (UCO)... the leftover fryer sludge that’s recycled into renewable diesel. America imported about $1.1 billion worth of it in 2024, but after new tariffs and China cutting export rebates, imports have plunged 65% this year to just $287 million.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the way I see it, banning Chinese oil now is like calling the fire department after the house has already burned down… and then billing them for the water. Two Chinese traders reportedly said the move would have “minimal” impact… translation: “go ahead, we weren’t shipping it anyway.” Rumor has it, Chinese producers have already shacked up with Europe, where demand for biofuels is booming.

Still, it makes for great political theater. Trump gets to say he’s standing up for America’s farmers, even if the real problem isn’t oil… it’s soybeans. China bought nearly $12.8 billion worth of U.S. soybeans last year but hasn’t touched an American bean since May. Instead, they’ve been loading up from Brazil and Argentina, just to poke the navy-suited bear in the White House a little harder.

(Source: Fox Business)

That shift has U.S. farmers fuming. “Having dependable trading partners is better in the long run,” said one farm economist… aka: “please stop tweeting, sir.” Younger farmers renting land or still paying off their combines are especially feeling the pinch as Chinese demand evaporates.

So yes, technically, America can make its own cooking oil. But if we’re banning stuff every time another country ghosts our soybeans out of spite, make no mistake about it… we’ll be deep-frying our way into another trade war before dad gets to cut his turkey this Thanksgiving.

That said, markets don’t seem to mind. Chim Lee, senior analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit, called Trump’s threat “not escalatory.” In other words: mostly sizzle, no steak. Or in this case, all fryer, no oil.

Then again… maybe the conspiracy theorists are right. Maybe this is just the soft launch for Trump’s Nonstick Revolution (Trademarked, obviously) America’s first cookware line tough enough to survive tariffs, soy wars, and the comments section. Coming soon to Truth Shopping Live, right next to those “NIFTY’s” (as Trump liked to call them).

At the time of publishing this article, Stocks.News doesn’t hold positions in companies mentioned in the article.