By Faith Parum, Ph.D.
Key Takeaways
- China remains a critical export market for U.S. agriculture. U.S. agricultural exports to China reached a record $40.9 billion in 2022 before falling sharply as trade tensions and shifting sourcing patterns disrupted flows.
- Soybeans accounted for 47% of all U.S. agricultural exports to China in 2024, underscoring how concentrated the relationship remains in a single commodity.
- Stable trade relationships matter in a depressed farm economy. With farmers facing continued margin pressure, reliable export demand is essential to supporting farm income.
China remains a critical export market for U.S. farmers and ranchers, particularly for soybeans, cotton, sorghum and pork. Recent years have demonstrated both the opportunity this market provides and the risks that come with trade disruption. As policymakers revisit the broader U.S.-China economic relationship, agriculture is one of the key points in the negotiation. Ahead of this week’s discussions, attention has focused on whether renewed trade talks could yield concrete commercial commitments, particularly for U.S. agricultural exports including soybeans and beef.
A Snapshot of the Broader Trade Relationship
The United States and China are still major trading partners, though the relationship narrowed significantly in 2025 as trade tensions disrupted flows in both directions.
In 2025, the United States exported $106.3 billion in goods to China while importing $308.4 billion, resulting in a goods trade deficit of approximately $202.1 billion. This is a decrease from prior years, reflecting the impact of tariff escalation. In 2024, the United States had a trade deficit of roughly $295 billion with China.
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