For soybeans’ sake, cancel tariffs, China urges US as farmers grow desperate at harvest
The US should abandon its ‘unreasonable tariffs’, Ministry of Commerce says as a long-term trade agreement remains elusive after four rounds of negotiations
Washington could take decisive action to ease tensions and bring trading of the crop – a critically important export for America’s agricultural industry – back to normalcy, Ministry of Commerce spokesman He Yadong said during a press briefing on Thursday, when asked whether China is placing any orders for US soybeans.
“The US side should take positive actions to cancel these unreasonable tariffs, creating conditions for expanding bilateral trade and injecting more stability and certainty into global economic development,” he stated.
The remarks followed a meeting on Monday between Li Chenggang, China’s trade negotiator and vice-minister of the ministry, and a delegation of political and business leaders from the American Midwest.
With harvest season under way in the agricultural hub, China – traditionally the top buyer of US soybeans – has yet to make any bulk purchases like it has in previous years. The typical harvest window is September through November.