President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday aboard Air Force One that U.S. farmers would welcome trade outcomes from his state visit to Beijing, and said China would be purchasing "billions of dollars" of soybeans. He offered no additional detail on the timing, volume or contractual specifics of those purchases.
Speaking as he returned to the United States from the China trip, the president repeated the expectation that agricultural trade gains would follow the visit. "The farmers are going to be very happy. They’re going to be buying billions of dollars of soybeans," he said to reporters.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Friday framed the expected uplift in broader terms, saying the United States anticipates China will buy "double-digit billions" worth of U.S. farm goods over the next three years as a follow-on to the state visit. Greer emphasized that the estimate covers all agricultural products rather than serving as a forecast exclusively for soybeans.
The comments arrive against a backdrop of substantially reduced Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans since the president's first term. The level of soybeans China sourced from the United States has fallen to about 15% in 2025, down from 41% in 2016, as the country has turned to lower-cost suppliers in Brazil.
Domestic supply conditions add context to the trade statements. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects this season's soybean crop to be the second-largest on record, a factor the administration referenced in discussions of potential export demand.
Beyond the public remarks, the administration has not released further documentation or specifics tying particular purchase commitments to concrete contracts or delivery schedules. The USTR's characterization of expected purchases as spanning multiple years and encompassing all farm goods leaves the precise impact on soybeans and other commodities unspecified.
Summary
- President Trump said China will buy "billions of dollars" of soybeans after his Beijing visit but provided no detailed purchase terms.
- U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated the U.S. expects "double-digit billions" of agricultural purchases from China over three years, covering all farm products, not just soybeans.
- China's share of U.S. soybean imports has declined to about 15% in 2025 from 41% in 2016, with Brazil supplying cheaper alternatives; the USDA forecasts the U.S. will produce its second-largest soybean harvest on record this season.