As Trump-Xi meeting approaches, market expects China not to significantly increase US soybean purchases
Ahead of the upcoming Trump-Xi meeting, market observers anticipate that China will not significantly increase its purchases of US soybeans beyond the agreement made last October. This is attributed to weak demand and the lower cost of Brazilian soybeans, although expectations remain for new agreements on other agricultural products.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 14:20
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- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 12, 2026 at 14:59 (27 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Taipei, 12th) The Trump-Xi meeting will be held on the 14th. Reuters reported today that the outside world expects China to increase its purchases of US grains and meats. However, market observers expect that China's purchases of US soybeans will not see significant new additions beyond the agreement reached in October last year.
After US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Busan, South Korea, in October 2025, the US and China reached a series of trade agreements, including China's commitment to purchase at least 25 million tons of US soybeans annually for three years from 2026 to 2028. However, the Chinese official side has never confirmed this trade agreement.
Reuters reported on the 12th that, according to informed sources, the White House hopes to seek Beijing's commitment to purchase more US soybeans and other agricultural products during the Trump-Xi meeting. A senior US official told reporters, "China knows it needs this, and it knows we want to sell it. So, this will come up during this trip or soon after."
However, traders and analysts believe that any trade agreement may be limited due to weak demand and cheaper purchases of Brazilian soybeans. They see Beijing as unwilling to purchase more US soybeans than what was committed in October last year.
On the other hand, the market expects new agreements between the US and China on other agricultural products, such as corn, sorghum, and milling wheat, as well as beef and poultry; some of these were hinted at during the March meeting between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
Even Rogers Pay, Director of Trivium China, stated that there is still some room for both sides to reach procurement agreements for other major US export products, possibly large-scale purchases of products like corn and sorghum.
Trump will visit China from the 13th to the 15th and will meet with Xi Jinping. Prior to this, He Lifeng will lead a delegation to South Korea from the 12th to the 13th to consult with the US on "economic and trade issues of mutual concern." (Editors: Chen Kai-yu / Lu Chia-jung) 1150512
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(Central News Agency, Taipei, 12th) The Trump-Xi meeting will be held on the 14th. Reuters reported today that the outside world expects China to increase its purchases of US grains and meats. However, market observers expect that China's purchases of US soybeans will not see significant new additions beyond the agreement reached in October last year.
After US President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Busan, South Korea, in October 2025, the US and China reached a series of trade agreements, including China's commitment to purchase at least 25 million tons of US soybeans annually for three years from 2026 to 2028. However, the Chinese official side has never confirmed this trade agreement.
Reuters reported on the 12th that, according to informed sources, the White House hopes to seek Beijing's commitment to purchase more US soybeans and other agricultural products during the Trump-Xi meeting. A senior US official told reporters, "China knows it needs this, and it knows we want to sell it. So, this will come up during this trip or soon after."
However, traders and analysts believe that any trade agreement may be limited due to weak demand and cheaper purchases of Brazilian soybeans. They see Beijing as unwilling to purchase more US soybeans than what was committed in October last year.
On the other hand, the market expects new agreements between the US and China on other agricultural products, such as corn, sorghum, and milling wheat, as well as beef and poultry; some of these were hinted at during the March meeting between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng.
Even Rogers Pay, Director of Trivium China, stated that there is still some room for both sides to reach procurement agreements for other major US export products, possibly large-scale purchases of products like corn and sorghum.
Trump will visit China from the 13th to the 15th and will meet with Xi Jinping. Prior to this, He Lifeng will lead a delegation to South Korea from the 12th to the 13th to consult with the US on "economic and trade issues of mutual concern." (Editors: Chen Kai-yu / Lu Chia-jung) 1150512
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.