American soybean farmers got some rare good news on Wednesday just hours before a high-stakes meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump when news broke that Beijing had placed its first order after months of trade tension that saw shipments blocked.
The Trump administration hailed the move as a “positive step forward” for farmers, touting the “America first” leader’s deal-making prowess.
“Today’s purchase by China of multiple ships of American soybeans signals @POTUS’ strong dealmaking and a positive step forward for our farmers,” US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins posted on social media.
She added that the purchase coming “directly” ahead of the sit-down, which is scheduled for the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in South Korea on Thursday morning, shows that “American means business, that we will restore balance”.
Initial reports of the deal involved some confusion. While some growers called the purchase “encouraging” and hoped for a lasting deal, others remained sceptical, noting that no confirmation was initially released from industry or Chinese officials.
But for many, it was a hopeful note, allowing them to breath a sigh of relief.
Comments are closed.