Following this week’s summit in Beijing, China’s commerce ministry announced on Saturday that the two nations have reached preliminary agreements to boost agricultural trade by reducing tariffs and addressing market access obstacles.
The accords are described as “preliminary” and will be “finalised as soon as possible,” according to the ministry statement released after U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit.
American farm exports to China continue to face an extra 10% tariff following last year’s trade war escalation that dramatically reduced commerce, with agricultural trade dropping 65.7% year-over-year to $8.4 billion in 2025, based on U.S. Department of Agriculture figures.
According to the commerce ministry, both nations plan to boost bilateral trade, including farm products, through reciprocal tariff cuts on various commodities. The statement did not identify specific products covered.
China has restarted buying certain American agricultural goods following an October meeting, meeting a U.S.-stated pledge to purchase 12 million metric tons of soybeans by February’s end. Beijing has also bought American wheat shipments and significant sorghum quantities.
Industry observers anticipate a 10% reduction in soybean tariffs, potentially enabling private Chinese processors to restart buying that was mostly halted during last year’s American harvest season, when government crop buyers were the sole purchasers.
“Tariff reductions on agricultural products would mark a normalization of China-U.S. farm trade, allowing commercial buyers to re-enter the market,” said Johnny Xiang, founder of Beijing-based AgRadar Consulting.
The ministry stated both countries committed to “resolve or make substantive progress” on trade barriers and market access challenges.
China will address American concerns regarding beef facility registration and poultry shipments from specific U.S. states, according to the announcement.
On Friday, Beijing extended five-year registration renewals to 425 American beef processing plants that were mostly excluded after their permits expired last year, while approving new five-year certifications for 77 additional U.S. facilities.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated Friday that America anticipates China will purchase “double-digit billions” in U.S. farm products during the coming three years, though neither country has disclosed specifics regarding products, values or quantities.
