US President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in four weeks, with US soybean purchases expected to dominate the agenda.
Trump, posting on his Truth Social account, said American farmers have been hurt as China holds back on soybean imports “for negotiating reasons only.” He stressed that the issue will be raised directly with Xi. “I’ll be meeting with President Xi, of China, in four weeks, and Soybeans will be a major topic of discussion,” Trump wrote.
The announcement comes after Trump previously indicated he would hold talks with Xi during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea at the end of October. Trump has also signaled plans to travel to China next year, underscoring a renewed attempt to ease trade tensions.
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Earlier this year, Washington and Beijing engaged in a tariff battle that saw both sides impose higher duties on each other’s exports. While both countries have since pledged to reduce friction, the trade relationship remains uncertain.
On Wednesday, Trump added that he intends to use a portion of tariff revenues to support American farmers, while also criticizing former President Joe Biden for failing to enforce a past US-China trade deal mandating increased farm purchases.
The American Soybean Association (ASA) has called on Trump to make soybean sales a priority in negotiations. In a statement last month, ASA warned that retaliatory tariffs from China were blocking access to the country’s massive soybean market just as the 2025 harvest nears.
“China has imposed a 20 per cent tariff in response to US duties, and as a result, the US has made zero sales to China in this new crop marketing year,” ASA President Caleb Ragland said recently. He added that Brazil and Argentina have taken advantage of the gap, capturing critical market share at the expense of US producers. “The frustration is overwhelming,” he said.
Soybeans are among the most significant US agricultural exports, and China remains one of the largest global buyers. Any breakthrough at the upcoming Trump–Xi meeting will be closely watched by both farmers and commodity markets worldwide.
