China and the United States have reached preliminary agreements to significantly boost agricultural trade, including reciprocal tariff reductions and expanded market access. This breakthrough, announced after a summit in Beijing, aims to normalize farm trade, which saw a 65.7% decline in 2025.
The pact is expected to finalize soon, addressing issues like soybean tariffs and U.S. beef and poultry export registrations, with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer projecting “double-digit billions” in U.S. farm goods purchases over three years.
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BEIJING – May 16, 2026 (Reuters) – A significant diplomatic development unfolded this week as China and the United States announced preliminary agreements to enhance agricultural trade. Following a high-stakes summit in Beijing, China's commerce ministry confirmed commitments to reduce tariffs, dismantle non-tariff barriers, and expand market access for American farm products.
The ministry emphasized that these agreements, which followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit, are "preliminary" but are expected to be "finalized as soon as possible," signaling a promising new chapter in bilateral trade relations.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for a state banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People on May 14, 2026 in Beijing, China.
Alex Wong | Getty Images
U.S. agricultural exports to China have faced a challenging period, with an additional 10% levy imposed after reciprocal tariffs significantly curtailed trade. Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows a dramatic 65.7% year-on-year drop to $8.4 billion in 2025.
Both nations are now committed to fostering two-way trade, particularly in agriculture, through reciprocal tariff reductions across a wide array of goods. While specific products were not detailed, market analysts are optimistic about a potential 10% cut in soybean tariffs. Such a reduction could reactivate private Chinese crushers, who were largely sidelined during the previous year's U.S. harvest, leaving state crop traders as 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," noted Johnny Xiang, founder of Beijing-based AgRadar Consulting, highlighting the potential for renewed commercial engagement.
Further progress is anticipated in resolving non-tariff barriers and market access issues. China has pledged to address U.S. concerns regarding the registration of beef facilities and the export of poultry from specific American states. In a significant move, Beijing recently granted five-year registration extensions to 425 U.S. beef plants, which had previously faced operational hurdles due to lapsed registrations. Additionally, 77 new U.S. facilities received fresh five-year approvals.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that the U.S. expects China to purchase "double-digit billions" worth of American farm goods over the next three years. However, comprehensive details on product types, total values, or specific volumes are yet to be publicly released by either party.
