China and the United States have reached preliminary agreements to enhance agricultural trade by reducing tariffs and addressing non-tariff barriers and market access issues, as announced by China's commerce ministry following a summit in Beijing with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Currently, U.S. agricultural imports to China are subject to an additional 10% tariff, which has significantly impacted trade, causing a 65.7% decline year-on-year to $8.4 billion in 2025, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. The agreements aim to promote reciprocal tariff reductions across various goods, although specific products were not detailed.
Following an earlier meeting in October, China has resumed purchasing some U.S. agricultural products, including soybeans, wheat, and sorghum, fulfilling a commitment to buy 12 million metric tons of soybeans by the end of February.
Market analysts anticipate that a potential 10% reduction in soybean tariffs could enable private Chinese buyers to re-enter the market, which had been dominated by state crop traders during the last U.S. harvest. Johnny Xiang, founder of AgRadar Consulting, noted that tariff reductions would signify a normalization of trade relations, allowing commercial buyers back into the market.
Additionally, the U.S. and China have agreed to make progress on non-tariff barriers, with China addressing U.S. concerns regarding the registration of beef facilities and poultry exports. Recently, China extended registrations for 425 U.S. beef plants and approved new registrations for 77 additional facilities. U.S.
Trade Representative Jamieson Greer expressed expectations that China would purchase "double-digit billions" worth of U.S. agricultural goods over the next three years, although specific details on products and volumes have yet to be disclosed