BEIJING, CHINA (RFD NEWS) — U.S. agriculture came out of the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing with fresh purchase signals, but not a detailed commodity-by-commodity agreement.
Reuters reports U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the U.S. expects China to buy “double-digit billions” in American farm goods annually over the next three years.
Greer said the expected purchases would be broader than soybeans alone. He also pointed to China’s earlier commitment to buy 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans per year, which equals roughly 919 million bushels annually.
Reuters also reports Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said soybeans were “all taken care of,” cooling expectations for a higher soybean target. Traders are watching whether China adds new old-crop purchases or waits until later in the year.
The broader summit also covered non-ag issues, including trade, Taiwan, technology, and global security. That makes agriculture important, but not the only focus.
For producers, the next proof will be actual export sales, shipment pace, and buyer breakdowns.
RealAg Radio Host Shaun Haney joined Friday’s Market Day Report to discuss the potential outcomes for commodity markets and agricultural trade following the high-profile meeting.
While optimism has circulated within the industry, he says there have not yet been any definitive announcements tied directly to agriculture.
“There were rumors floating around out of the administration that agriculture would be very happy from this meeting, and so that’s why expectations have been very high, but they were set high by people in the administration,” Haney said.
In his conversation with RFD-TV, Haney said it appears to be a high-stakes game when it comes to conversations surrounding Taiwan.
“The Taiwan situation is a real sensitive issue. In the China readout after day one, it included discussions about Taiwan. The U.S. readout did not include it. President Trump’s got a decision to make on this 14 billion dollar arm-sale to Taipei that he’s going to have to make a decision on it. It’s going to be very sensitive because if he says no, it’s going to be portrayed one way and if he says yes, it potentially really offends China which then potentially impacts agricultural exports to China.”
Haney noted there was little movement regarding Iran.
“No real news there, Strait [of Hormuz] remains closed, and it seems more focused on Taiwan at this point in the news cycle than anything about Iran.”
Haney says it is still too early to determine whether the trip will ultimately be considered a success for agriculture or broader trade relations.
