Chinese-Owned Seed Company in Arkansas Ordered to Sell Land Holdings by State Authorities

Syngenta Seeds, a subsidiary of China National Chemical Company (ChemChina), has been ordered by the Arkansas Attorney General to divest its ownership of 160 acres of agricultural land in Craighead County within two years. The order is in response to Acts 636 and 758, which prohibit certain foreign parties from acquiring any interest in Arkansas agricultural land and ban government contracts with the Chinese Communist Party. Syngenta released a statement expressing disappointment and emphasizing that no one from China has directed any Syngenta executive to engage in land acquisition in the United States. The company argues that the divestment will negatively impact the U.S. agricultural market and hurt Arkansas farmers.