Reports: China Buys Several Shiploads of U.S. Soybeans Ahead of Trump Trade Meeting

You'll want to remember this moment. Help us record what's happening in Decorah. U.S. soybean farmers and lawmakers said the Chinese purchase of several shiploads of U.S. soybeans indicated a positive step in trade negotiations between the two counties. Reuters reported Wednesday that COFCO, a Chinese state-owned food processing company, purchased about 180,000 metric tons of soybeans from the U.S. The reported purchase, which Reuters attributed to "two trade sources" is the first purchase China has made since harvest season began on the latest U.S. soybean crop. The country has also bought soybeans from Argentina and continues to purchase from Brazil, leaving soybean farmers and farm industry groups concerned they have lost a key international market. The purchase comes toward the end of harvest season for many farmers, and also a day before President Donald Trump is slated to work out a trade deal with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The trade deal is expected to include agreements on soybeans and other agricultural exports. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins posted on social media Wednesday about the purchase and said it showed "strong dealmaking" on the part of the president and "a positive step forward for our farmers." "This purchase, coming directly ahead of the Trump-Xi talks, shows that America means business and that we will restore balance, give U.S. producers the opportunities they've earned, and send a message that when America leads in agriculture, the world listens," Rollins wrote. Rollins also mentioned the purchase while speaking on a Fox Business segment Wednesday. The estimated 180,000-metric-ton purchase is a small percentage of the nearly 27 million metric tons of soybeans the U.S. exported to China in 2024, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley has also called for a trade deal with China that will benefit farmers. Grassley said in a statement Wednesday he hopes for a "successful" meeting between Trump and Xi. "China thinks it can move the needle at the last minute, but these small purchases are not nearly enough to address the serious threats facing the ag economy," Grassley said. "While this may be a positive sign, it's critical that the Chinese market more fully reopens to American soybean growers soon." Congressional delegates from Iowa and Wisconsin urged, in a letter this week, the president to prioritize a soybean deal in his talks with the Chinese leader. U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, who led the letter, said Wednesday the purchase from China was a "an important first step and a clear signal of momentum" for Trump's negotiations. "I've led the charge for our farmers and rural communities: end China's trade war, restore market access, and expand ag exports," Nunn said in a statement. "President Trump has proven time and again he has the tools to deliver. I look forward to reviewing the deal." U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Republican from Kansas, wrote on social media that the purchase was a "big win" for farmers. Nebraska Republican U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer also posted on social media and said the deal showed "agricultural trade could ease tensions between Washington and Beijing, while also leveling the playing field and directly assisting hardworking American ag producers." The American Soybean Association did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Ohio Soybean Association President Rusty Goebel said on the social media platform X that farmers were "encouraged" by the "positive trade news" and said the association looks forward to additional deals and purchases. A representative from the Iowa Soybean Association declined to comment and said news of the purchase had not been "adequately substantiated." COFCO, the Chinese company that reportedly purchased the soybeans, did not respond to a request for comment or confirmation. Elevate your inbox with the DecorahNews.com newsletter! Receive free thought-provoking articles, actionable advice and inspiring stories every week.