Soybean Farmers Welcome Relief After U.S.–China Trade Truce
From New York Times — Oct 31st, 2025
President Trump announced that China will lift its boycott and resume purchasing millions of tons of American soybeans under a new trade truce between the two countries. The agreement offers a much-needed boost for U.S. farmers after months of uncertainty, though the final terms remain unclear.
According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, China agreed to buy 12 million metric tons of soybeans this year and at least 25 million annually over the next three years—levels similar to pre-trade war imports. Economic research firm Veda Partners estimated the deal’s four-year soybean commitment at roughly $34 billion, significantly less than the $56 billion pledged in the 2020 trade agreement.
“For U.S. soybean farmers, the promise of enhanced sales to China as a result of the first trade war was a mirage,” said Henrietta Treyz, director of economic policy at Veda Partners. She added that farmers find the latest deal “underwhelming,” given its short-term scope and lack of clarity on timing for future purchases.
While farm groups welcomed the truce as a positive step, analysts caution that the deal may offer only temporary relief unless it leads to a longer-term, stable trading relationship.
This excerpt and any accompanying media (including audio, video, or images) are shared under the principles of fair use, for informational and archival purposes only. All rights remain with the original publisher.