MADRID, SPAIN (RFD-TV) — U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative officials are meeting this week with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Madrid — with tariffs, export controls, and TikTok on the agenda.
China has sharply reduced purchases of American crops, and reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) show no new soybean bookings from China for 2025/26. This follows Beijing’s recent approval of Brazilian sorghum imports and suspension of U.S. shipments, citing quality issues.
The Treasury signaled over the weekend that the current tariff truce will hold until at least November 10, which could give farmers a brief window of stability. However, China has pulled back on U.S. crops, turning to Brazil and Argentina instead for soybeans and sorghum.
For U.S. agriculture, the stakes are high. Farm groups are pressing negotiators to secure firm commitments for Chinese buying, warning that without access to this top market, U.S. producers face lower prices and growing competition.
USDA Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Luke Lindberg joined us with a recap of the Malaysia trade mission and a look at USDA’s broader trade strategy moving forward.
January 28, 2026 01:49 PM
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Mike Steenhoek of the Soy Transportation Coalition shares how extreme winter weather is affecting the ag transportation network and what producers should keep in mind as conditions slowly improve.
January 28, 2026 01:36 PM
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Strong White House backing supports ethanol demand, but timing now hinges on Congress resolving procedural — at the same time as they push toward a spending bill to avert another federal government shutdown.
January 28, 2026 11:35 AM
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Corn and soybean exports continue to anchor weekly inspection totals, with China maintaining a visible role, while wheat and sorghum remain more dependent on regional and seasonal demand shifts.
January 27, 2026 03:08 PM
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Lewis Williamson of HTS Commodities joined us with an update on the historic winter storm impacts and his outlook on today’s ag markets.
January 27, 2026 02:39 PM
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Marilyn Schlake with the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics joined us for a closer look at the evolving role of livestock sale barns.
January 27, 2026 12:19 PM
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