Trump asks China to increase imports of US farm, food commodities

US President Donald Trump asked China to boost imports of US agricultural and food products during his bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping, the White House said May 14 in a post on X.

"President Trump had a good meeting with President Xi of China. President [Trump] also highlighted the need to build on progress in increasing China's purchases of American agricultural products," the White House said.

The US-China tariff conflict in 2025 disrupted trade in key commodities, such as soybeans and beef. China avoided purchasing US-origin soybeans during April to late October 2025, according to data from the US Department of Agriculture.

Trump and Xi held a summit in Busan, South Korea, on Oct. 30, 2025, and China resumed purchases of US soybeans. China is yet to resume buying US beef, US-based beef traders said.

However, China currently levies an additional 10% import duty on US goods, introduced in response to Trump's April 2025 tariffs. The levy continues to weigh on Chinese imports of US farm and food commodities.

"Soybeans, we have a very large purchase commitment from the Busan agreement for the next three years. So soybeans are really all taken care of," US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said May 14 in a CNBC interview.

For beef, Bessent said US beef exports to China are facing non-tariff barriers. Several US beef exporting plants lost their export eligibility to China after their licenses lapsed in 2025 without customary renewal, according to US-based beef exporters.

So far in marketing year 2025-26 (September-August), the US has sold 11.8 million metric tons of soybeans to China as of April 30, 2026, down 47.5% year over year, according to the USDA. In MY 2024-25, the US sold 22.5 million mt of soybeans to China.

"We expect the meeting will have more implications for new (soybean) crop sales. We do not expect any further old-crop (soybean) sales to China to be announced, as China has already committed to 12 million mt for MY 2025-26 (September-August)," S&P Global Energy CERA said in a report May 8.

As of April 30, the US sold 200 mt of beef in MY 2026 (January-December), compared with 27,404 mt of beef over the same period in MY 2025, USDA data showed. In MY 2025, the US exported 35,200 mt of beef to China.

So far in MY 2026 (January-December), the US sold 80,500 mt of pork to China as of April 30, up 62.3% year over year, according to USDA data. In MY 2025, the US sold 137,200 mt of pork to China.

China has not bought any corn from the US in MY 2025-26 (September-August) as of April 30, 2026, compared with 32,700 mt in MY 2024-25, the USDA said.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed the SOYBEX China CFR flat price at $506.79/mt on May 14, down 92 cents day over day. Platts assessed US SOYBEX FOB at $484.65/mt on May 13, up 83 cents day over day.

Platts assessed North Asia pork belly CFR at $4,300/mt on May 14, unchanged day over day. Platts assessed US pork loin at $3,064.43/mt on May 13, down $22.04 day over day.

Platts assessed 90 CL beef CIF US at $8,003/mt on May 13, unchanged day over day.