Overview

• On August 11, President Trump posted on Truth Social urging China to quadruple its U.S. soybean orders to ease a domestic shortage and narrow the bilateral trade deficit.
• His call comes ahead of the tariff truce’s scheduled expiry on August 12, raising the risk of renewed duties between Washington and Beijing.
• Vice President J D Vance said the administration has not made a firm decision on imposing tariffs over China’s purchases of Russian oil.
• China, which accounts for more than 60 percent of global soybean shipments, has redirected much of its demand to South American suppliers following past U.S.–China trade tensions.
• The soybean appeal highlights agriculture’s role in the administration’s leverage strategy as trade negotiations enter a critical phase.