Trade Tensions and Soybeans: Trump to Discuss US Agricultural Exports with Xi Jinping

President Donald Trump has announced an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, scheduled within the next month, with US soybean exports at the forefront of the agenda. American farmers are grappling with the repercussions of trade disputes, and the meeting is designed to address these concerns. In a post on his social media platform, Trump explained that China’s limited soybean purchases are negatively impacting US farmers, and that soybeans will be a primary discussion topic with President Xi. Trump previously disclosed plans to meet with Xi at the APEC summit in South Korea in October, and also signaled his intention to visit China next year. The US and China were involved in a trade war earlier this year, which resulted in higher tariffs being imposed by both countries. Despite agreements aimed at de-escalation, the situation remains uncertain. Trump has stated his intention to use US tariff revenue to support American farmers, and has criticized former President Joe Biden’s administration for not enforcing a prior trade deal that required increased farm purchases. The American Soybean Association (ASA) has implored Trump to prioritize soybeans in upcoming trade discussions with China, warning of the negative consequences of Chinese tariffs on American farmers’ access to their key export market as the 2025 soybean harvest approaches. China is a significant soybean buyer, and the US has long been a major supplier. According to ASA President Caleb Ragland, the US has not recorded any sales to China in the current crop year due to China’s retaliatory tariffs, benefiting other exporters, such as Brazil and Argentina.