Trump Announces Xi Summit as Soybeans Take Center Stage in Trade War

US President Donald Trump announced a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in just four weeks, putting American soybean farmers front and center as the trade war heats up once more. With the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit kicking off on October 31 in Gyeongju, South Korea, Trump is gearing up for what could be a pivotal face-to-face that reshapes US-China relations, blending agricultural woes with the recent TikTok breakthrough.

"The Soybean Farmers of our Country are being hurt because China is, for 'negotiating' reasons only, not buying," Trump declared in his signature bold style. "We've made so much money on Tariffs, that we are going to take a small portion of that money, and help our Farmers. I WILL NEVER LET OUR FARMERS DOWN!" He didn't hold back on slamming his predecessor, adding, "Sleepy Joe Biden didn't enforce our Agreement with China, where they were going to purchase Billions of Dollars of our Farm Product, but Soybeans, in particular."

Soybeans, a cornerstone of US agricultural exports worth over $14 billion annually before the 2018 trade spat, have been a flashpoint in bilateral tensions. China's retaliatory tariffs slashed US soybean imports by nearly 75% at their peak, forcing American farmers to pivot to markets like Brazil and Argentina. Despite a Phase One trade deal in 2020 that promised $50 billion in annual purchases, compliance has lagged, leaving Midwest heartlands reeling from low prices, high input costs, and equipment struggles. Trump's pledge taps into tariff revenues—projected to exceed $80 billion this fiscal year—to provide direct aid, echoing his first-term subsidies that injected $28 billion into the sector.

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The timing couldn't be more charged. Just weeks ago, on September 19, Trump hailed a "productive" phone call with Xi that greenlit a framework for TikTok's US operations, averting a potential ban under the 2024 Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications (PAFACA) Act. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump beamed, "I had a good call with President Xi. He approved the TikTok deal. We look forward to getting the deal closed." He touted "tight control" by American investors, including Oracle and high-profile financiers, ensuring US data security while preserving the app's addictive algorithm that, Trump cheekily noted, "got me numbers that nobody has ever even heard before" among young voters.

Yet, Beijing's silence on the TikTok nod has fueled skepticism. Chinese state media confirmed only "progress" on trade and tech, with no formal endorsement of the divestiture plan that would shift majority ownership away from ByteDance. Analysts warn that unresolved details—like data flows and algorithmic oversight—could derail the deal, especially as China leverages its dominance in rare earth minerals and critical supply chains for concessions. "The Chinese side is tactical and experienced," noted Tsinghua economist Li Daokui, hinting at Beijing's strategy to extract tariff relief or soybean purchase commitments in exchange.

Trump's post paints an optimistic picture: "It's all going to work out very well. I LOVE OUR PATRIOTS, AND EVERY FARMER IS EXACTLY THAT! I'll be meeting with President Xi, of China, in four weeks, and Soybeans will be a major topic of discussion. MAKE SOYBEANS, AND OTHER ROW CROPS, GREAT AGAIN!" He also teased a follow-up visit to China in early 2026, signaling a thaw after months of frosty exchanges over fentanyl flows, Russia's Ukraine invasion, and semiconductor curbs.

This summit arrives amid broader US-China gridlock. With midterm elections looming and inflation biting at farm gates, Trump's farmer-first rhetoric could rally rural bases in key swing states like Iowa and Illinois, where soybeans fuel 40% of farm income. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, decry the tariff-aid cycle as a "band-aid on a broken system," urging multilateral WTO reforms instead. But for now, as combines roll through golden fields under cloudy skies, Trump's vow resonates: American agriculture won't be collateral in the great power chess game.

As the world watches, this Trump-Xi rendezvous could unlock billions in trade flows—or ignite fresh tariffs. One thing's certain: soybeans are back in the spotlight, and the heartland is holding its breath.

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