BEIJING/CHICAGO, Nov 2 — Chinese buying of US farm goods other than soybeans is on track for a seven-year low this year despite an agreement to purchase billions of dollars in imports, a Reuters analysis of customs data showed on Monday, underscoring long-running uncertainties about the deal.

Source: Reuters

In May, the White House said Beijing agreed to buy $17 billion of US agricultural goods annually from 2026, with this year's target prorated. Those purchases were on top of a commitment made in October last year to buy US soybeans. Yaani: $17 billion is 1,700 crore dollars, and the $7.2 billion bought so far is about 720 crore dollars.

Source: Reuters

$17 billionBeijing's annual US farm-goods pledge, per the White House
$7.2 billionNon-soy US farm goods bought by China, January to September
2019Last time January–September imports were this low — the height of the first trade war

While China is on track to hit its soybean target, it bought just $7.2 billion worth of the other agricultural goods — from meat to corn — between January and September, the analysis showed. Imports are at their lowest for this period since 2019, at the height of the first trade war.

Source: Reuters

Breach or not? The clock is unclear

Whether Beijing is in breach of its commitment is unclear, Reuters reported, because the White House has not said whether the clock began after the announcement in May or will start once China's proposed tariff cuts have been finalised — which has yet to happen. The US Department of Agriculture referred questions about the prorating schedule to the Office of the US Trade Representative.

Source: Reuters

Analysts said that even if buying picks up, weak Chinese demand and stiff competition make the target difficult to meet unless Beijing orders state-owned buyers into action — as it is already doing with soybeans.

Source: Reuters

The numbers are the latest test of the trade understandings reached between Washington and Beijing: soybeans, where state buyers can be directed, are flowing; the wider farm basket, which depends on ordinary commercial demand, is not keeping pace.