China, U.S. Yet to Finalize Fixed Agricultural Import Deal

China’s agricultural imports from the United States still face an additional 10% levy after rounds of tit-for-tat tariffs last year sharply curtailed trade, which fell 65.7% year on year to $8.4 billion in 2025, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data cited in a Reuters report by Ella Cao and Lewis Jackson.

China has fulfilled a U.S.-stated commitment to buy 12 million metric tons of soybeans by the end of February.

China’s Commerce Ministry said both countries aim to promote two-way trade, including in agricultural products, through measures such as reciprocal tariff reductions across a range of goods.

However, officials did not specify which products would be covered.

China resumed purchases of some U.S. agricultural goods following an October meeting, fulfilling a U.S.-stated commitment to buy 12 million metric tons of soybeans by the end of February.

Beijing has also purchased some U.S. wheat cargoes and large volumes of sorghum.

Market observers expect a 10% reduction in soybean tariffs, which could allow private Chinese crushers to resume purchases that were largely sidelined during last year’s U.S. harvest, when state-owned crop traders were the primary buyers.

“Tariff reductions on agricultural products would mark a normalization of China-U.S. farm trade, allowing commercial buyers to re-enter the market,” said Johnny Xiang, founder of Beijing-based AgRadar Consulting.