What are the key agricultural products and commitments discussed between the US and China ahead of the Trump-Xi summit, and what barriers remain to fulfilling them?

The key agricultural products discussed are soybeans, sorghum, and corn, with China reportedly agreeing at the Busan summit to purchase 25 million metric tons of US soybeans annually through 2028, and later agreeing during Trump’s May Beijing visit to add $17 billion in other agricultural purchases. However, Beijing has never officially acknowledged these agreements, and fulfilling the broader $17 billion commitment likely requires exempting agricultural imports from the remaining 10% tariff from the trade war. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated on September 3 that announcements to incentivize US agricultural sales—including potential waivers for sorghum and corn—could follow the summit.

How might energy trade between the US and China change following the Trump-Xi summit, and what is the current status of US LNG exports to China?

Energy tariffs could be part of a $30 billion package of reciprocal tariff cuts flagged after the May summit but not yet implemented; removing them could resume US oil and gas imports to China, which previously ranged from $7.5 billion to $12 billion annually (2020–2024). However, while Chinese imports of US LNG halted after Beijing imposed 10%–15% tariffs last year, Chinese buyers continue fulfilling long-term contracts with US suppliers but resell the cargoes after purchase—meaning resumed imports would not immediately deliver a major windfall to US LNG producers.

Commodity Markets Expectations from Trump-Xi Summit

Sep 17, 2026

US-China trade negotiations highlight agriculture, energy, and rare earths as key bargaining chips ahead of the Trump-Xi summit. Potential outcomes include tariff waivers, resumed oil imports, and resolved supply constraints for critical materials.

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