RismadarVoice Reporters, May 18, 2026
The United States has announced that China will purchase “at least” $17 billion worth of American agricultural products annually following recent talks between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
According to a White House fact sheet released on Sunday, the agreement will run through 2028, with the 2026 target expected to apply proportionately for the remainder of the year.
The White House said the arrangement is in addition to an earlier commitment by China to purchase at least 87 million metric tonnes of US soybeans, an agreement reportedly reached during a previous summit between Trump and Xi in South Korea in October.
Under the latest understanding, China is also expected to restore market access for US beef by renewing expired registrations for more than 400 production facilities.
The agreement further includes the resumption of poultry imports from US states certified by the Department of Agriculture as free from avian influenza.
Washington also announced that both countries agreed to establish two new platforms — the US-China Board of Trade and the US-China Board of Investment — aimed at managing trade and investment relations between the two economic powers.
Chinese authorities had not officially confirmed or commented on the White House announcement as of Sunday, while the Chinese Embassy in Washington had yet to respond to media inquiries.
The announcement followed a two-day summit between Trump and Xi in Beijing, where both leaders discussed trade, economic cooperation and global security concerns.
Although the meeting featured symbolic gestures of cooperation and diplomatic camaraderie, analysts noted that it produced limited concrete agreements on broader geopolitical disputes.
According to the White House, the leaders discussed ways to strengthen economic cooperation and also agreed on the importance of maintaining stability in the Strait of Hormuz amid growing tensions involving Iran.
The summit comes amid ongoing efforts by both countries to stabilise economic relations following years of trade disputes and geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing.
