By Micah McCartneyShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberChina’s orders of American soybeans remain limited, despite the assurances President Donald Trump said he secured from Chinese leader Xi Jinping during their recent high-profile talks in South Korea.
Why It Matters
Soybeans are the United States’ most valuable agricultural export, with China representing a critical market. According to the American Soybean Association, U.S. soybeans accounted for an average of 28 percent of China’s import market over the past seven years.
Earlier this year, Beijing halted imports of U.S. soybeans in retaliation for Trump’s tariff increases, sending American sales to their lowest level in two decades. Farmers’ hopes were lifted in October after the White House announced a breakthrough in trade talks following the leaders' meeting in Busan.
Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) foreign department and China's Commerce Ministry by email with a request for comment.
What To know
Data from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service shows that exports to China remain modest. Private export sales included 792,000 metric tons on November 18, 330,000 metric tons on November 19, 462,000 metric tons on November 20, and 123,000 metric tons this Monday.
These figures fall short of China’s purported commitment to buy 12 million metric tons by January and an additional 25 million metric tons annually for the next three years.
...Trump told reporters Tuesday that in his call with Xi the previous day, he urged the Chinese leader to speed up purchases. “He more or less agreed,” Trump said, according to Reuters. U.S. Trade Secretary Scott Bessent, who has led the American negotiating team, insisted Chinese purchases remain “right on schedule.”
At the same time, China has stepped up efforts to diversify its soybean suppliers, increasing imports from Brazil and Argentina in a bid to strengthen food security. Brazilian produce now make up more than half of China’s total soybean imports, according to the USDA.
What People Are Saying
Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday: “I just had a very good telephone call with President Xi, of China. We discussed many topics including Ukraine/Russia, Fentanyl, Soybeans and other Farm Products, etc. We have done a good, and very important, deal for our great farmers—and it will only get better.”
Tanner Ehmke, a lead economist with CoBank, told The Associated Press: "“We are still not even close to what has been advertised from the U.S. in terms of what the agreement would have been."
What Happens Next
Whether China will increase its purchases enough to meet its promises remains uncertain. In the longer term, U.S. soybean exporters could face stiffer competition as China continues to diversify its import sources.
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
WorldUS Tests New MQ-9 Reaper Drone Operations Near China3 min read
WorldTrump Caught in China’s Flashpoint Dispute With Key US Ally4 min read
WorldVenezuela Reveals Xi and Putin’s Letters to Maduro3 min read
U.S.Map Shows US Air Force Strike Team Near Venezuela4 min read
NewsMapped: The North Korean Missiles That Can Strike US Territory3 min read
NewsTop US Commander Visits Troops as Pressure Builds on Venezuela4 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
WorldRussia Blasts Leaked Call Between Trump Envoy, Putin Aide on Ukraine2 min read
NewsTrump May Defeat Maduro Without Battle and Lose War in Venezuela14 min read
NewsRepublican Senator Defends Mark Kelly, Calls Treason Accusations ‘Reckless’4 min read
NewsDonald Trump Floats Potential ‘Surprise’ After Trade Talks With China’s Xi3 min read
NewsRepublicans Propose Scrapping Automatic Emergency Braking in Cars: Report1 min read
NewsIRS Considers Plans For Major New Tax Credit For Millions1 min readTrending
MoneyNew ‘Cash Law’ Could Change Grocery Store Rules3 min read
SnowfallWinter Storm Warning Issued As 25 Inches of Snow To Strike5 min read
U.S. Economy‘Mass Blackout’ Starts Today: What to Know3 min read
Home PricesPrice Correction ‘Worse Than 2008’ Coming To US Housing Market—Analyst5 min read
National Weather ServiceWinter Storm Alert Issued as 12 Inches of Snow Set To Hit3 min readOpinion
OpinionGOP Rep.: The U.S. Must Close Critical AI Chip Export Loophole Exploited by China | Opinion5 min read
OpinionAgriculture Secretary: Giving Thanks to the American Farmer This Thanksgiving | Opinion4 min read
OpinionFormer White House Middle East Envoy: What We Keep Getting Wrong About the UAE and Sudan | Opinion5 min read
OpinionGovernment-Mandated Affordability—Music to Consumer Ears | Opinion6 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: Ukraine Peace Plan Edition2 min read
