New data the Agriculture Department released Friday created serious doubts about whether China will really buy millions of bushels of American soybeans like the Trump administration touted last month.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, right, films a social media post on a combine with farm owner Tyler Everett during a farm tour in Lebanon, Ind., Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L.
Rollins, right, films a social media post on a combine with farm owner Tyler Everett during a farm tour in Lebanon, Ind., Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, right, speaks during a farm tour in Lebanon, Ind., Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, right, films a social media post on a combine with farm owner Tyler Everett during a farm tour in Lebanon, Ind., Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. – New data the Agriculture Department released Friday created serious doubts about whether China will really buy millions of bushels of American soybeans like the Trump administration touted last month after a high-stakes meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.showed only two Chinese purchases of American soybeans since the summit in South Korea that totaled 332,000 metric tons. That's well short of the 12 million metric tons that Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said China agreed to purchase by January and nowhere near the 25 million metric tons she said they would buy in each of the next three years.were hopeful that their biggest customer would resume buying their crops. But CoBank's Tanner Ehmke, who is its lead economist for grains and oilseed, said there isn't much incentive for China to buy from America right now because they have plenty of soybeans on hand that they have bought from Brazil and other South American countries this year, and the“We are still not even close to what has been advertised from the U.S. in terms of what the agreement would have been,” Ehmke said.but only that the two sides have reached “consensus” on expanding trade in farm products. Ehmke said that even if China did promise to buy American soybeans it may have only agreed to buy them if the price was attractive. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the lack of Chinese purchases and whether farmers can still expect a significant aid package likeThe Chinese tariff on American beans remains high at about 24%, despite a 10-percentage-point reduction following the summit. Soybean prices fell sharply by 23 cents to $11.24 per bushel Friday. Ehmke said “that’s the market being shocked by the lack of Chinese demand that was confirmed in USDA data today.” Prices are still higher than they were before the agreement when they were selling for $10.60 per bushel, but the price may continue to drop unless there are significant new purchases. Before the trade agreement, Trump had said farmers would receive an aid package to help them survive the trade war with China. That was put on hold during the shutdown, and now it's not clear whether the administration will offer farmers aid like Trump did in his first administration.trade agreement China signed with the United States in 2020 promised massive purchases of U.S. crops. But the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted trade between the two nations just as the agreement went into effect. In 2022, U.S. farm exports to China hit a record, but then fell. Soybean prices are actually still a little higher than they were a year ago even without China's normal purchases of roughly one-quarter of the U.S. crop. That's because this year's soybean crop is a little smaller while domestic demand remained strong with the continued growth in biodiesel production. But farmers are dealing with the soaring cost of fertilizer, seed, equipment and labor this year, and that is hurting their profits. The Kentucky farmer who is president of the American Soybean Association, Caleb Ragland, has said he worries that thousands of farmers could go out of business this year without significant Chinese purchases or government aid. Ragland said he's still optimistic that China will follow through on the purchases, but it's hard to be confident in that right now with so few sales reported. “We don’t want to assume they won’t. But it’s going to be a wonderful day when we actually deliver those soybeans, and when there’s my money in hand and so forth and the transaction's complete,” Ragland said. China is the world’s largest buyer of soybeans. China bought more than $12.5 billion worth of the nearly $24.5 billion worth of U.S. soybeans that were exported last year. But China quit buying American soybeans this year after Trump imposed his tariffs and continued to shift more of their purchases over to South America. Even before the trade war,accounted for more than 70% of China’s imports last year, while the U.S. share fell to 21%, World Bank data shows. Ragland said that every vender he talks to has told him they are increasing their prices for next year, which will continue to put pressure on farmers. “We’re still looking at sharp losses and the red ink as we figure budgets for 26 is still very much in play,” he said.Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Tariffs driving up prices on Christmas trees, decor, lights. Here’s how to save▶Drought Worsens Across SE Texas — Rain on the HorizonDROUGHT UPDATE: Houston continues to need rainLong Line Forms at Houston Food Pantry as Families Wait for AssistancePearland Dawson volleyball team headed to state semifinalsEpstein email says Trump ‘knew about the girls,’ but White House says release is a Democratic smearEpstein email says Trump ‘knew about the girls,’ but White House says release is a Democratic smearSuspect in Michigan double murder was out on bond in Harris County, records showHouston family loses home to fire caused by faulty wiringGET TO KNOW: Houston independent journalist Grizzy, the woman behind Grizzy's Hood NewsThe scene from KPRC 2 Chief Meteorologist Anthony Yanez's visit to a Houston school!Meet Grizzy’s Hood News: Houston’s most powerful voice on social mediaHouston neighborhood redefining 'growing local' by growing fresh and healthy produceExplaining the phenomenon of Northern Lights!Dermatologist explains how rapid weather changes impact the skinCy-Fair mom demands crossing guard after 14-year-old hit in crosswalk near schoolsPasadena mother faces uncertain future after ICE detains husband, brotherSon of former Kendleton mayor arrested, indicted on child sex crime chargesThe cloud that airplanes accidentally inventedAre Hurricanes and Typhoons the same thing?Hormone replacement therapy is no longer labeled as dangerous. Should you take them?Houston residents face trash delays during holidays, city urges use of drop-off centersTHANK YOU CARD TUESDAY! Meteorologist Anthony Yanez shouts out students who thanked him for visitDrone thermal technology helps Sugar Land police quickly find missing man with dementia
U.S. News Brooke Rollins Xi Jinping Donald Trump Business Politics
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
USDA Threatens Penalties Over SNAP Benefit PaymentsThe US Department of Agriculture is threatening to penalize states that do not reverse their decisions to pay out full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for November, following a Supreme Court order. This action comes after a temporary block on a lower court ruling that mandated full distribution of SNAP funds. Democrats have criticized the administration's move, accusing it of attempting to take away food assistance from those who have already received it.
Read more »
Trump’s trade war is pushing Canada closer to ChinaIt is an image that just a year ago would have seemed unfathomable: the Canadian and Chinese leaders standing side by side, shaking hands and grinning.
Read more »
Doubts Arise Over China's commitment to buy American soybeans afer USDA ReportNew data the Agriculture Department released Friday created serious doubts about whether China will really buy millions of bushels of American soybeans like the Trump administration touted last month.
Read more »
USDA data casts doubt on China's soybean purchase promises touted by TrumpNew data the Agriculture Department released Friday created serious doubts about whether China will really buy millions of bushels of American soybeans like the Trump administration touted last month.
Read more »
USDA data casts doubt on China's soybean purchase promises touted by TrumpOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — New data the Agriculture Department released Friday created serious doubts about whether China will really buy millions of bushels of
Read more »
USDA data casts doubt on China's soybean purchase promises touted by TrumpNew data the Agriculture Department released Friday created serious doubts about whether China will really buy millions of bushels of American soybeans like the Trump administration touted last month.
Read more »