At midnight on the 10th local time, Trump posted on social media, urging China to increase its U.S. soybean orders by four times, and promised "fast service" for China. One day later, on the 11th, as the deadline for the suspension of U.S.-China tariff measures approached, Trump finally signed an executive order to extend the U.S.-China tariff ceasefire agreement for another 90 days.

U.S. President Trump. (Photo source: Reuters)

Looking at these two events together, it indicates that the U.S.-China tariff negotiations are in a deadlock, and also shows that China's "agricultural products card" has played a role. The United States has taken a very tough stance toward other trade partners—Canada, Japan, South Korea, India, and the European Union—and unilaterally set conditions. However, China has its own "cards," including the "rare earth card," "raw materials card," and "agricultural products card." Among them, China is the world's largest agricultural products import market, and has long relied on U.S. soybeans. After the trade war during Trump's first term, China reduced the proportion of soybeans imported from the United States: In 2017, U.S. soybeans accounted for nearly 40% of China's total imports, while by 2024 it had dropped to 20%; the proportion of Brazilian soybeans rose to 70%, higher than 50% in 2017. Trump's recent request for China to purchase more U.S. soybeans indicates that our "card" has worked.

On February 21, 2025, in Goiás, Brazil, workers harvest soybeans on a farm. (Photo source: Visual China)

Why did Trump call on China to buy large quantities of U.S. soybeans at this time? I believe it is related to his plan to visit China this year. Trump will not visit China on September 3rd—he has officially invited the President of Poland to visit the U.S., but the probability of visiting China this year is still high. A visit to China requires results; he cannot go there without any achievements. Therefore, he hopes we will purchase some more U.S. soybeans so that he can explain it to his core supporters—the "redneck" farmers.

I don't know whether China will agree to his request. But it is certain that the "soybean card" is now in our hands, not in the U.S.'s. China has already found soybean supply channels in Russia and South America, and the initiative to buy or how much to buy U.S. soybeans completely lies with us.

Currently, apart from China, other countries have shown relatively weak positions when dealing with the U.S. This indicates that only China's strength can match the U.S., and no other country can do that. Recently, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bensons said in an interview with Japanese media that China is a special existence, both the biggest economic competitor and the biggest military competitor of the U.S.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Bensons. (Photo source: Visual China)

Bensons, as the U.S. chief representative, participated in three rounds of U.S.-China tariff negotiations. He must have felt the power of China in the process of dealing with China, which caused him inner fear.

As I have emphasized many times, the U.S. always bullies the weak and fears the strong, and only recognizes strength. It is obviously a fantasy for the Trump administration to use the same methods they used against other countries to deal with China, and they can only return empty-handed. This makes us feel that the direction of Sino-U.S. relations is better than expected. As a major country, China just needs to maintain composure: if the other party is willing to negotiate, we will negotiate seriously; if the other party imposes pressure unilaterally, we will respond decisively. They cannot do anything to us.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7538701748182008370/

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