China’s tariff cut plans skip soybeans, spurring hopes for higher buys of other US farm goods
China’s exclusion of soybeans from its planned tariff-reduction framework has left exporters optimistic that Beijing will increase purchases of other US farm and food products in the coming months to fulfill a commitment made earlier this year. China’s Ministry of Commerce said Sept. 28 that Beijing would consider reducing tariffs on a range of US ...
China has announced plans to cut tariffs on several US agricultural and animal-protein products, including beef, pork, corn, and wheat, but has excluded soybeans from the list. This decision has left soybean exporters optimistic about potential increased purchases from the US market. The announcement followed a summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 23-25.
China had previously committed to purchasing $17 billion annually in US farm commodities other than soybeans from 2026 to 2028. However, actual purchases by China have not met this target, with only $66 million in US wheat and $7 million in US corn purchased from January to July 2026. The reduction in tariffs could help boost US competitiveness in the Chinese market.
Despite the tariff dispute, US beef and pork exports to China have been significant, but China suspended pork imports after the Trump-Xi summit and later reinstated the licenses for US pork-processing plants. US beef sales to China decreased by 77.8% year over year in MY 2026, while US soybean sales have improved in MY 2026-27. However, soybeans remain subject to a 13% duty, which has hurt demand from private buyers in China.
China has committed to purchasing 10.17 million metric tons of US soybeans in MY 2026-27, but recent purchases have been by state-owned agencies.
Written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
