S. 732: Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2025, aims to amend existing laws regarding foreign investments in U.S. agriculture. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill proposes:

Inclusion of the Secretary of Agriculture

The bill seeks to add the Secretary of Agriculture as a member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). This inclusion is specifically for transactions that:

• Involve agricultural land
• Relate to agricultural biotechnology
• Concern the agriculture industry, including aspects related to:
• Transportation
• Storage
• Processing

Review of Agricultural Land Transactions

The bill provides that, upon receiving notification from the Secretary of Agriculture about a reportable agricultural land transaction, the CFIUS must assess the transaction to determine if it is considered a "covered transaction." If it is deemed covered, the CFIUS will decide whether to conduct a further review or take another authorized action regarding that transaction.

Definitions and Criteria

The bill details certain definitions relevant to its implementation:

• Covered Country: Refers to countries designated as foreign adversaries, specifically the People's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
• Reportable Agricultural Land Transaction: This is defined as any transaction involving a foreign person from a covered country seeking to acquire an interest in agricultural land, for which a notice must be submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture under existing laws.

Sunset Provision

The bill includes a sunset provision that states the requirements regarding certain foreign persons will cease if that country is removed from the list of foreign adversaries as defined by federal regulations.

Overall Objectives

The primary goal of this legislation is to enhance oversight of foreign investments in the agricultural sector of the United States, specifically focusing on transactions involving certain countries identified as adversaries. By including the Secretary of Agriculture in the review process, the bill aims to protect vital agricultural resources and technologies from potential foreign influence or control.

Relevant Companies

• DE (Deere & Company) - As a major agricultural equipment manufacturer, Deere could be affected by foreign investments that seek to acquire land for agricultural operations.
• KLAC (KLA Corporation) - Involved in the semiconductor space, which is closely tied to agricultural technology; any foreign acquisition attempts in this area could be scrutinized under the new regulations.
• BAYRY (Bayer AG) - Operating in biotechnology and agriculture, Bayer might have to navigate additional regulations if it seeks to engage in transactions with the identified foreign adversaries.