Donald Trump to press Xi Jinping on soybeans as US farmers struggle
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Donald Trump says he will press Xi Jinping on soybean purchases at the APEC summit, as US farmers face mounting losses from the China trade war.
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In this May 29, 2019 photo, a deer runs through a field which is partially flooded near Anderson, Iowa, US (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
US President Donald Trump signaled on Wednesday that he will push Chinese leader Xi Jinping on soybean purchases when the two meet at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea.
“The Soybean Farmers of our Country are being hurt because China is, for ‘negotiating’ reasons only, not buying,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I’ll be meeting with President Xi, of China, in four weeks, and soybeans will be a major topic of discussion.”
Trump has also said he plans to travel to China next year, signaling agriculture and trade will be central themes in his talks with Beijing.
Read more: Trump-Hegseth last minute meeting 'insane message of little merit'
US farmers struggle under China trade war fallout
The announcement comes as US farmers continue to grapple with the impact of the China trade war. Trump’s tariff battles with Beijing earlier this year triggered retaliatory duties on American exports, cutting access to what was once the largest market for US soybeans.
Donald J. Trump Truth Social Post 01:53 PM EST 10/01/25
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) October 1, 2025
The Soybean Farmers of our Country are being hurt because China is, for “negotiating” reasons only, not buying. We’ve made so much money on Tariffs, that we are going to take a small portion of that money, and help our…
Although Washington and Beijing later agreed to de-escalate tensions, the truce has been fragile, with long-lasting effects on agricultural trade.
The American Soybean Association (ASA) has repeatedly urged Trump to prioritize soybean sales in discussions with China.
ASA President Caleb Ragland warned that retaliatory tariffs are shutting American farmers out of their biggest export market during the 2025 harvest season. “The US has made zero sales to China in this new crop marketing year,” he said, noting that Brazil and Argentina have stepped in to replace US suppliers.
“The frustration is overwhelming,” Ragland added.
Trump criticizes Biden, pledges farmer support
Trump has pledged to use tariff revenues to provide aid to farmers, echoing measures from his first administration, when American agriculture suffered more than $27 billion in export losses between 2018 and 2019.
He also criticized former President Joe Biden for failing to enforce an earlier trade deal with Beijing that required increased farm purchases. Trump’s campaign has positioned the revival of US farm exports, particularly soybeans, as a key priority in future negotiations with Xi Jinping.
