Market analysts on trade with China: “It’s not going to change on a whim”

As U.S. leaders work to secure more trade deals, there is still some hope that China will return to the U.S. soybean market.

The Senior Market Analyst for Barchart, and frequent Market Day Report guest, Darin Newsom says it might not happen again in our lifetimes.

“No, the U.S. is not going to regain its foothold. There’s nothing that’s going to happen that’s going to change that again. This is long-term damage that has been done in trade relations. Long-term to China is not what the U.S. thinks, which is hours to maybe days; it’s a very short attention span. The U.S. is known for its ADHD. China, long-term, is centuries, so you know, we’re not dealing with something that’s just going to change on a whim, much like what we see happening here in the U.S. So, no, the U.S. isn’t going to immediately jump back into the game. it’s going to take a long time to rebuild any sort of demand coming from China.”

Finding a trade balance with China has been a top priority for the Administration this week. Several cabinet members just returned from London after meeting with Chinese officials. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was part of that delegation, who is testifying before the House and Ways Committee currently.

Related Stories
With China’s pullback, U.S. sorghum producers must broaden their export markets. Building connections now could help stabilize prices and demand for the upcoming larger crop.
Higher domestic rail tariffs and mixed capacity shifts will influence grain movement this harvest. Strong corn exports provide momentum, but logistics costs remain a critical factor.
Malone, Senior Director of Trade Execution at Bunge, emphasized the importance of spaces where women can engage in meaningful conversations about global trade, supply chains, and leadership opportunities.
“Those could’ve easily been our beans going over there. It goes to show that if that opportunity is there, China would be willing to buy.”
We caught up with Karen Braun, Chief Market Analyst at Zaner Ag Hedge, at the Women in Agribusiness to discuss the data behind commodity trading.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

While this month’s WASDE report will not include updated figures on U.S. crop size, officials say it will offer a clearer picture of crop conditions in the Southern Hemisphere.
USTR Jamieson Greer signals a narrower trade deal with China, adding more market uncertainty. The Farm Bureau also supports reviewing China’s missed trade commitments under the Phase One.
Southern producers head into 2026 with thin margins, tighter credit, and rising agronomic risks despite scattered yield improvements.
Record yields and exceptionally low BCFM strengthen U.S. corn’s competitive position in global markets.