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US and China weigh $30 billion tariff cuts on energy and farm goods
Washington and Beijing are discussing lower duties on US agriculture and energy and Chinese manufacturing inputs ahead of the Trump-Xi summit.
The US and China are discussing cutting tariffs on selected goods, including American energy and agricultural shipments, ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The talks could also reduce duties on Chinese inputs used by US manufacturers.
The measures would be carried out under an earlier plan for reciprocal tariff cuts covering roughly $30 billion in trade. Some Chinese goods could receive most-favored-nation tariff rates, according to people familiar with the private discussions.
The agreement would be limited compared with more than $400 billion in bilateral trade during the first eight months of the year. But it could show that Washington and Beijing are engaging enough to extend the tariff truce reached in October 2025, even as they remain divided over artificial intelligence, export controls and Taiwan.
Agriculture is expected to play a central role. Representatives from Cofco, China’s state-owned food trader, may join Xi’s delegation, while more than a dozen other companies are being considered for a CEO group.
China is making progress toward its pledge to buy 25 million tons of US soybeans annually through 2028 and recently passed the halfway mark for this year’s target.
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The White House said Beijing has also committed to buy at least $17 billion of US agricultural products each year on top of soybean purchases, with the 2026 target prorated.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said he expected announcements on agriculture and related non-tariff barriers during Xi’s visit.
Trump has said Xi will visit the White House on Sept. 24 for talks and a state dinner, although Beijing has not yet confirmed the travel dates.
The two leaders’ meeting would follow a visit in May, when Trump brought executives including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Tesla’s Elon Musk to China.
A tariff deal could provide an early test of whether the Board of Trade announced during Trump’s May meeting with Xi can produce results. It would also give both governments a way to keep the broader relationship on track while disputes over technology and national security continue.