Missouri lawmakers back ban on Chinese ownership of land (2024)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House voted Thursday to ban entities from China and four other perceived adversarial countries from purchasing land in the state, citing a need to protect farms from the possibility of falling under hostile control.

The Missouri legislation, which now heads to the Senate, is one of several similar bills moving through state capitols this year amid international tensions that were peaked by the trek of a Chinese balloon across the U.S.

“The balloon was just over this Capitol” in February, Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher said Thursday. “We have to protect Missouri sovereignty, and we have to protect Missouri farmers, and I think we need to protect our food supply.”

In addition to targeting foreign property ownership in the U.S., many states and the federal government recently have banned the popular social media app TikTok from government devices amid fears that its Chinese-owned parent company could provide data about users to the Chinese government.

Missouri is one of 14 states that already restrict foreign ownership of agricultural land. The new legislation would lower the cap on foreign ownership from 1% to 0.5% of all agricultural land in the state.

It also would ban the purchase of any additional land by entities from China, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela, effective Aug. 28. Of those, China is the only country currently connected to the ownership of Missouri farmland.

Chinese entities owned 42,596 acres (172 square kilometers) of Missouri agricultural land as of 2021 — just a little under half of the roughly 100,000 agricultural acres (404 square kilometers) owned by all foreign entities, according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture. Much of that land is used for corporate hog farms in northern Missouri and owned by a Chinese conglomerate that purchased Smithfield Foods Inc. in 2013.

The effort to restrict foreign land ownership gained momentum in Missouri after then-Attorney General Eric Schmitt, a Republican, was portrayed by Democratic opponents in last year’s U.S. Senate campaign as a Chinese sympathizer for voting to allow limited foreign ownership of farmland when he was a state senator in 2013. Schmitt ultimately won election to the U.S. Senate.

The Missouri measure has been opposed by lobbyist groups for businesses, real estate agents and pork producers.

“We don’t think it’s the place of government to get involved in private business transactions,” Sam Licklider, chief lobbyist for the Missouri Realtors, said during a committee hearing this year.

Foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land rose significantly in the past decade — from less than 26 million acres (105,219 square kilometers) in 2011 to more than 40 million acres (161,874 square kilometers) in 2021, or 3.1% of all privately held agricultural land, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The federal agriculture agency uses a broader definition of foreign ownership of agricultural land than Missouri. It says foreign investors held about 433,000 acres (1,752 square kilometers) of agricultural land in Missouri in 2021, about 1.2% of all privately held agricultural land.

Missouri lawmakers back ban on Chinese ownership of land (2024)

FAQs

Does China own any land in Missouri? ›

Chinese entities owned 42,596 acres of Missouri agricultural land as of 2021 — just a little under half of the roughly 100,000 agricultural acres owned by all foreign entities, according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

How much land is owned by foreign countries in Missouri? ›

When former Missouri Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon in 2013 vetoed a bill lifting a near-total ban on foreign ownership of agricultural land, the Republican-controlled General Assembly overrode him. Today, foreign entities own more than 100,000 acres across the state.

Can citizens of China own property? ›

A.

The Constitution of the People's Republic of China (PRC or China) provides for the protection of private property. property is inviolable. The state, in accordance with law, protects the rights of citizens to private property and to its inheritance.”

Can the Chinese government buy land in the US? ›

“The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has no business purchasing land near military bases or for agricultural purposes – or for any other reason,” said Rep. Bill Johnson. “It is a critical matter of national security that we prevent the CCP from buying large swaths of American land.

Who is the largest foreign owner of land in Missouri? ›

To other foreign adversaries that wish to destroy our nation?” According to the Missouri Department of Agriculture, countries with the biggest ownership of land in Missouri include China with more than 42,000 acres, New Zealand with 16,000 and Spain with 13,000.

Who owns most of the land in Missouri? ›

With almost 260,000 acres of property, Bill Gates holds the title of the largest private landowner in Missouri.

What group owns the most land in the US? ›

1. EMMERSON FAMILY. The nation's largest private landowners, California's Emmerson family, are a prime example of this trend. Through their Sierra Pacific Industries, the Emmersons increased their landholdings by more than 100 square miles to over 2.4 million acres.

What country owns most of US land? ›

China owns roughly 384,000 acres of U.S. agricultural land, according to a 2021 report from the Department of Agriculture.

How much is an acre of land worth in Missouri? ›

Table 1. Agricultural land values per acre, June 2022.
State(s)Cropland (dollars)Pasture (dollars)
Missouri4,3204,150
Arkansas3,1103,550
Illinois8,9508,900
Iowa9,3509,400
5 more rows

What percent of Chinese own homes? ›

List of countries by home ownership rate
Country or TerritoryHome ownership rate(%)Date of Information
Vietnam902020
China89.682018
Serbia89.42021
Lithuania89.02021
68 more rows

How much do houses cost in China? ›

An average 80 square meter apartment within Shanghai's Inner Ring Road goes for upwards $886,000; while in the city's hinterlands it sells for around US$200,000. In Beijing, the average cost of a home of this size is roughly US$310,000.

Does China have property tax? ›

Local governments are sinking further into debt, but after years of talk, officials have yet to introduce a real estate tax.

How much does the US owe China? ›

Top Foreign Holders of U.S. Debt
RankCountryU.S. Treasury Holdings
1🇯🇵 Japan$1,076B
2🇨🇳 China$867B
3🇬🇧 United Kingdom$655B
4🇧🇪 Belgium$354B
6 more rows
Mar 24, 2023

What US companies does China own? ›

Keep reading to see which U.S. giants are backed by foreign conglomerates.
  • AMC. Popular cinema company AMC, short for American Multi-Cinema, has been around for over a century and is headquartered in Leawood, KS. ...
  • General Motors. ...
  • Spotify. ...
  • Snapchat. ...
  • Hilton Hotels. ...
  • General Electric Appliance Division. ...
  • 49 Comments.
Jan 12, 2021

Why is China buying land in North Dakota? ›

Recent reporting shows that a CCP-affiliated corporation purchased farmland in North Dakota that is just a stone's throw from high-capability military bases. The purchase raises the possibility that the Chinese government could use the farmland as a launching pad for espionage under the guise of operating a business.

Where is Bill Gates land in Missouri? ›

So you have to wonder how many acres does he own in Missouri? The answer is zero. Now that doesn't mean at some point he won't gobble up some acreage around the Lake of the Ozarks or around the Branson area. Even though he doesn't own any land in Missouri he has a stake in some states around us.

Can you still homestead land in Missouri? ›

Missouri Homestead Laws at a Glance

Missouri homestead law allows for a $15,000 exemption, which is applicable to "a dwelling house and appurtenances, and the land used in connection therewith." In other words, the state's homestead law is limited to homes, corresponding buildings, and the land on which they stand.

Who sold Missouri to the US? ›

New France set up small settlements, and in 1803, Napoleonic France sold the area to the U.S. as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Statehood for Missouri came following the Missouri Compromise in 1820 that allowed slavery.

Who owns the largest ranch in Missouri? ›

Top Landowners In Missouri
LandownersTotal Acres
1. The State of Missouri3,000,000
2. The United States Government1,400,000
3. Missouri Department of Conservation460,000
4. The Ted Turner Reserves149,000
6 more rows
Apr 20, 2023

What are the 4 types of land in Missouri? ›

Missouri is divided into four major landforms. They are: the Dissected Till Plains of the north; the Osage Plains of the west; the Ozark Plateau highlands of the south; and the Mississippi Alluvial Plain of the southeast.

What is the largest ranch in Missouri? ›

According to circlearanch.com, the Circle A Angus Ranch is 24,000 acres with a 7,000 head ranching operation.

Who is the richest rancher in America? ›

Largest private land owners in the United States in 2021
NameAcres
1Emmerson family2,330,000 2,330,000
2John Malone2,200,000 2,200,000
3Reed family2,100,000 2,100,000
4Ted Turner2,000,000 2,000,000
10 more rows
Aug 16, 2022

What religion owns the most land? ›

Roman Catholic Church: 70 million hectares

The largest landowner in the world is not a major oil magnate or a real estate investor. No, it's the Roman Catholic Church. According to lovemoney.com, the church owns more than 70 million hectares. An area that is larger than France.

How much land does Jeff Bezos own in the US? ›

The Largest Private Landowners in the United States
Person/FamilyAcres Owned
21Don Horton507,410
22Simplot Family443,091
23Fisher Family440,000
24Jeff Bezos420,000
21 more rows

Why does the US own so much land? ›

The history of federal land ownership has been largely one of divestiture and public use, not acquisition. As the United States expanded across the continent, it did so by purchasing or taking the land that became new states. (Among the groups it took land from were Native Americans.)

Does the US own land in Canada? ›

About 89% of Canada's land area (8,886,356 km2) is Crown land, which may either be federal (41%) or provincial (48%); the remaining 11% is privately owned.

How much land does Canada own in USA? ›

According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Holdings of U.S. Agricultural Land through December 31, 2021 report, Canadian entities own 12.8 million acres of U.S. land.

What state has the cheapest land? ›

InMyArea.com performed a study that took a look at the median prices per acre in 2021 and found that Arizona had the cheapest median cost per acre, at $4,164. The data includes the price of land with existing homes and the cost of land designated as a homesite was also included so that you can have some comparison.

Where is the best farmland in Missouri? ›

The Ozark Plateau, the largest part of Missouri, is covered in forested hills and known for its large lakes and clear rivers. In the Bootheel region, appropriately named for its distinctive shape, rich farmland supports crops ranging from cotton and rice to corn and soybeans.

How much does 2 acres of land cost in Missouri? ›

The 2020 survey results for good quality cropland indicate a state average of $5,555 per acre, up 2% or $134 per acre from the previous year. Average quality cropland is $4,529 per acre and poor cropland is $3,588 per acre. In addition, the average value for irrigated cropland across the state was $6,335 for 2020.

What is the average salary in China? ›

Maximum and minimum salary range

The average salary in China ranges from 7,410 Yuan per month (USD 1,066) to 131,000 Yuan (USD 18,842) per month — with 7,410 Yuan being the minimum salary and 131,100 Yuan being the maximum salary.

Are Chinese buying American homes? ›

Chinese investors are among the top foreign purchasers of residential real estate, along with Canadians, according to the National Association of Realtors. Other states have had concerns over foreign ownership of land and have made efforts to regulate it.

What is the average age of a Chinese homeowner? ›

The average age of Chinese home buyers in 2018 was 29.5, a younger average compared with the rest of the world, suggested a recent report on a survey of Chinese home buyers in 2018, the Economic View app reported on Jan. 28.

Is it cheaper to live in China or the US? ›

The cost of living in China can vary by location and type of purchase. On average, China's cost of living is 45% lower than the U.S according to Numbeo. Rent in China is 60% lower than the U.S. on average.

Is it expensive for an American to live in China? ›

The cost of living in China can vary hugely depending on the cities, regions as well as the lifestyle you choose. If you plan to move to China, this might be something you are most curious about, so read on. You can live in most China's major cities for far less than $1,000 per month, and with a great lifestyle.

How much money do you need to live comfortably in China? ›

China Living Costs for a Single Person. A single expat is likely to spend around $1300 a month on average (in first-tier cities).

Are taxes higher in China or USA? ›

The marginal effective tax rate (METR) in the United States under current law is 18.3 percent, compared to 4.8 percent in China, indicating the U.S. places a higher burden on marginal investment than China.

Does China have free healthcare? ›

How Does the Healthcare System Work in China? China does have free public healthcare which is under the country's social insurance plan. The healthcare system provides basic coverage for the majority of the native population and, in most cases, expats as well. However, it will depend on the region you reside in.

What country has the highest property taxes? ›

UHY's findings show that Belgium has the highest average property taxes for real estate worth USD 1 million of any country in the study at 11.3%* - a charge of USD 113,131.

Which country owes the most money to China? ›

At the end of 2021, of the 98 countries for whom data was available, Pakistan ($27.4 billion of external debt to China), Angola (22.0 billion), Ethiopia (7.4 billion), Kenya (7.4 billion) and Sri Lanka (7.2 billion) held the biggest debts to China.

Who does the US owe so much money to? ›

Japan and China have been the largest foreign holders of US debt for the last two decades.

Why does the US owe so much money to China? ›

U.S. debt to China comes in the form of U.S. Treasuries, largely due to their safety and stability. Although there are worries about China selling off U.S. debt, which would hamper economic growth, doing so in large amounts poses risks for China as well, making it unlikely to happen.

Does China own Ford? ›

Ford is not owned by any other company or by any one individual. It is a publicly-traded company that is owned by shareholders.

Does China own Burger King? ›

Burger King (BK) is an American-based multinational chain of hamburger fast food restaurants.

Is Whirlpool owned by China? ›

Whirlpool Corporation is an American multinational manufacturer and marketer of home appliances, headquartered in Benton Charter Township, Michigan, United States.

Do US citizens own land in China? ›

Foreign investors are not allowed to buy land in China. The land in China belongs to the state and the collectives.

Did China buy 370 acres of land? ›

The Chinese firm Fufeng Group last year bought 370 acres for a corn-milling plant that would have been located about 12 miles from Grand Forks Air Force Base. The planned $700 million plant would have created more than 200 direct jobs, according to local officials.

Is China buying lots of land in Oklahoma? ›

Over 1 million acres of Oklahoma farmland are currently owned by foreign entities, and nations like China are, according to Lankford, "100%" using the land for drug production.

How many acres in Oklahoma are owned by China? ›

“This trend is happening all over the country, and we're certainly seeing it in my state of Oklahoma,” Lankford said. “It's dramatically affecting the price of real estate.” Ten years ago, 321,000 acres in Oklahoma were foreign-owned, and, today, that number is up to 1.67 million, Lankford said.

Who owned Missouri before the US? ›

Ste. Genevieve, the first permanent white settlement in what is now Missouri, was founded by 1750. The Treaty of Fontainebleau, which would transfer French Louisiana to Spain, was signed on November 3, 1762. The King of Spain ratified the Treaty on November 13 and the King of France ratified on November 23.

Did the Chinese buy land in Levy County Florida? ›

Levy County, Fla.

The Chinese company JOINN Biologics has purchased 1,400 acres of land and plans to build a massive facility to receive and quarantine newly imported monkeys, effectively establishing the county as another point along the dangerous and deadly wildlife-trade chain.

How many acres of farmland are in Missouri? ›

To begin with, Missouri had 95,320 farms in 2017, second in number only to Texas. Those farms covered 27.8 million acres, 63 percent of the land in Missouri. Though the majority of land, 15.6 million acres, is cropland, Missouri had 6.9 million acres of pastureland and over 4 million acres of woodland on farms.

Did a Chinese company just buy 1400 acres of land in Florida? ›

DeSantis called the latest measure a response to a "concerted effort" by the Chinese Communist Party to acquire farmland in Florida. He referenced an incident where a Chinese-owned drug developer tried to buy 1,400 acres in Levy County for $5.5 million in late 2022.

Who owns most of the land in Oklahoma? ›

Summary of the 6 Largest Landowners in Oklahoma
RankLandownerLand Size
1Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation1.4 million acres
2Commissioners of the Land Office725,000 acres
3Federal Government703,336 acres
4Drummond Family433,000 acres
2 more rows
Apr 13, 2023

Was Missouri the last state to abolish slavery? ›

Missouri was the eighth state to ratify the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution ending slavery on February 6, 1865. The amendment went into effect on December 18, 1865.

What was Missouri originally called? ›

The mighty river which flowed into the Mississippi eventually was named after the tribe that lived along its banks. It became the Missouri River. Later, when settlers came, the area became known as the Missouri Territory and in 1821, when the territory became a state, it adopted the name Missouri.

Why did St. Louis decline so much? ›

Louis, Missouri, from 1905 to 1980 saw declines in population and economic basis, particularly after World War II. Although St. Louis made civic improvements in the 1920s and enacted pollution controls in the 1930s, suburban growth accelerated and the city population fell dramatically from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Who owned most of the land in China? ›

After the Chinese Communist Revolution in 1949, most land is owned by collectivities or by the state; the Property Law of the People's Republic of China passed in 2007 codified property rights.

What land is China trying to claim? ›

China and Japan have a territorial dispute over a group of uninhabited islands known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan, the Diaoyu Islands in the People's Republic of China (PRC), and Tiaoyutai Islands in the Republic of China (ROC or Taiwan).

Did China buy land in Hawaii? ›

KAPOLEI, Hawaii (KITV4) -- China Oceanwide Holdings has completed the sale of nearly 500 acres of land near the Ko Olina Resort in West Oahu for about $95 million, KITV4 has learned.

How much is 1 acre worth in Missouri? ›

Table 1. Agricultural land values per acre, June 2022.
State(s)Cropland (dollars)Pasture (dollars)
Missouri4,3204,150
Arkansas3,1103,550
Illinois8,9508,900
Iowa9,3509,400
5 more rows

What is the biggest crop in Missouri? ›

By bushel volume, corn is Missouri's biggest crop and is typically grown in a two-year rotation with soybeans. Missouri ranks 10th among U.S. states in corn production.

What is the biggest farm in Missouri? ›

According to circlearanch.com, the Circle A Angus Ranch is 24,000 acres with a 7,000 head ranching operation.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Pres. Carey Rath

Last Updated:

Views: 6285

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 80% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Carey Rath

Birthday: 1997-03-06

Address: 14955 Ledner Trail, East Rodrickfort, NE 85127-8369

Phone: +18682428114917

Job: National Technology Representative

Hobby: Sand art, Drama, Web surfing, Cycling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Leather crafting, Creative writing

Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.