U.S., China Outline New Agricultural Purchase Framework
White House: Beijing will buy at least $17 billion in U.S. farm goods annually through 2028
The White House said China agreed to purchase at least $17 billion in U.S. agricultural products annually through 2028 as part of the broader understandings reached during President Donald Trump’s two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. The figure, disclosed in a White House fact sheet (link) following the summit, would represent a major multi-year commitment aimed at stabilizing bilateral agricultural trade after years of tariff disputes, licensing disruptions, and broader geopolitical tensions involving Taiwan, technology controls, and the Iran conflict.
The announcement comes as both Washington and Beijing attempt to rebuild a more predictable trade relationship following months of escalating tensions and retaliatory measures. China’s Ministry of Commerce issued its own statement Saturday saying both sides agreed to pursue measures to expand bilateral trade, including mutually lowering levies on certain products, although Beijing stopped short of providing specific dollar commitments or commodity targets. Chinese officials said negotiations on implementation details are ongoing.
For U.S. agriculture, the reported $17 billion annual commitment would provide important support for major export sectors including soybeans, corn, sorghum, pork, beef, poultry, dairy, cotton, and ethanol-related products.
The agreement also reinforces expectations that agriculture remains one of the few areas where both countries continue to see strategic mutual benefit despite widening competition elsewhere.
The White House fact sheet did not specify whether the purchases would include fixed commodity amounts similar to past “Phase One”-style agreements or whether they would be structured around broader aggregate value targets. The administration also did not clarify how the purchases would interact with ongoing tariff disputes or existing Section 301 and Section 122 trade actions.
The agricultural commitment follows several recent signs of improving trade ties. China recently renewed export registrations for hundreds of U.S. beef facilities and approved dozens of new establishments for access to the Chinese market, moves viewed by industry groups as goodwill gestures ahead of the summit. U.S. Meat Export Federation officials and other agricultural organizations have argued that restoring stable market access to China remains critical as domestic farm income pressures persist.
Meanwhile, both governments appeared eager to emphasize cooperation beyond trade. According to the White House, Trump and Xi also agreed that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon,” called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and said no country or organization should be permitted to impose tolls on international shipping through the strategic waterway. The reference underscores how the Iran conflict and energy market instability have increasingly become intertwined with global trade and food security concerns.
The summit marked the first visit to China by a U.S. president in nearly a decade and signaled an effort by both leaders to stabilize relations heading into a politically sensitive period for both countries. While major disagreements remain over tariffs, industrial policy, semiconductors, and national security issues, the agricultural commitments suggest both sides still view farm trade as a relatively workable area for cooperation.
