China’s Slow Buying of American Farm Goods Puts Its $17 Billion Pledge in Doubt
China’s purchases of US farm goods other than soybeans are on track for a seven-year low in 2026, according to a Reuters analysis of customs data. Beijing agreed in May to buy $17 billion of US agricultural goods a year from 2026, on top of an October 2025 soybean commitment, with this year’s target prorated. China is on track to meet its soybean target, but it bought only $7.2 billion of other farm goods from January to September, the lowest for that period since 2019.
Weak demand and competition explain much of it. US corn is uncompetitive partly because of ample Chinese supply, and COFCO Futures forecasts only about 900,000 tons of US corn imports for 2026/27, against roughly 20 million tons at the 2021 peak. Sorghum shipments have dried up over the past four months as Brazil competes strongly, China has an oversupply of pork and chicken, and US beef is expensive and faces regulatory barriers.
It is unclear whether China is in breach, because the White House has not said when the clock started or whether it depends on China finalising proposed tariff cuts. Darin Friedrichs of Sitonia Consulting said: “It’s difficult to get to US$17 billion in non-soybeans without directed, non-market, purchases.” US farmers are frustrated, and Democrats are using the issue to court rural voters before the midterms.
Source: reuters.com
