China Plans Tariff Cuts and Improved Farm Market Access After Trump-Xi Meeting

• China's farm imports from the U.S. currently face an additional 10% levy; market watchers expect a 10% tariff cut on soybeans, which could allow private Chinese crushers to resume purchases
• China approved five-year registration extensions for 425 U.S. beef plants and granted new registrations to 77 additional facilities to address U.S. concerns over beef and poultry market access
• Both sides committed to 'resolve or make substantive progress' on non-tariff barriers, though specific products, values, and volumes have not yet been detailed in the preliminary agreements

China-U.S. Agree to Tariff Cuts on Agricultural Products Following Trump-Xi Meeting

China and the United States reached preliminary agreements to expand agricultural trade through tariff reductions and improved market access following President Trump's visit to Beijing this week, China's commerce ministry announced Saturday.

Key Developments

The agreement aims to restore bilateral farm trade, which plummeted 65.7% year-on-year to $8.4 billion in 2025 due to a 10% additional levy on Chinese farm imports from the U.S. imposed during last year's trade disputes.

Market analysts expect a 10% reduction in soybean tariffs, which would enable private Chinese crushers to resume purchases after being largely sidelined during the 2025 U.S. harvest when only state traders participated. "Tariff reductions on agricultural products would mark a normalization of China-U.S. farm trade," said Johnny Xiang of AgRadar Consulting.

Immediate Actions

China has already taken concrete steps, granting five-year registration extensions to 425 U.S. beef plants on Friday and approving 77 new facilities. These plants had been shut out after registrations lapsed last year. Both sides also agreed to address non-tariff barriers, including U.S. concerns over beef facility registration and poultry export restrictions.

Future Commitments

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated the U.S. expects China to purchase "tens of billions of dollars" worth of American farm products over the next three years, though specific products, values, and volumes have not been disclosed.

The agreements remain preliminary and require finalization. The commerce ministry emphasized both nations aim to promote reciprocal tariff reductions across various goods, though specific products were not identified.