According to the official White House fact sheet Deal on Economic & Trade Relations with China, China will temporarily lift tariffs on soybeans, pork, beef, poultry, dairy products, wheat, corn, sorghum, cotton, fruits, vegetables, and seafood.
Beijing has committed to purchasing at least 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans in November–December 2025 and at least 25 million tons annually in 2026–2028. The agreement also includes the resumption of U.S. sorghum and hardwood log imports.
According to the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), China remains one of the most important markets for U.S. pork. In 2024, exports exceeded 475,000 tons, valued at more than $1.1 billion. However, in March 2025, Beijing imposed a 57% retaliatory tariff on U.S. pork, resulting in a 13% decline in exports during the first seven months of the year. Under the new deal, pork tariffs will be reduced by 10%.
NPPC President Duane Stateler thanked the Trump Administration for its efforts to remove tariffs and restore market-based trade conditions:
“If China fulfills its commitments and lifts all retaliatory measures, U.S. pork will become significantly more competitive in the Chinese market.”
U.S. Meat Export Federation President Dan Halstrom added that removing non-tariff barriers would also allow for the swift renewal of export plant registrations, reopening access to the Chinese beef market.
Beyond the agricultural aspects, the deal also addresses maritime logistics and shipbuilding issues. The U.S. has agreed to suspend enforcement actions under Section 301 until November 2026, while China will remove its retaliatory sanctions against American shipping companies.
According to John Newton, chief economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation, the agreement could put U.S. agricultural exports back on a growth trajectory. He noted that after the “Phase One” agreement in 2020, U.S. exports to China reached record highs, but later declined as China diversified its suppliers.
U.S. agricultural exports to China dropped to $27 billion in 2024, but the new commitments could push the total back above $30 billion by 2026. Newton said that the planned soybean purchases of 12 million tons by the end of 2025 represent a “realistic minimum” that could increase with stable political relations.
“This deal is not a cure-all, but it has the potential to support farmers’ incomes and stimulate rural economic growth across America,” Newton emphasized.
PigUA.info based on Reuters materials