Trump says he believes China will make a deal on soybean

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday (October 19) he believed a soybean deal with China would be reached as trade negotiations between Beijing and Washington appear to be regaining momentum after weeks of fresh tariff threats and export controls.

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Trump called on China to restart soybean purchases, noting zero imports in September and expressing hope for trade cooperation.
He warned China not to use rare earths as leverage, amid concerns over export curbs and ongoing tariff negotiations.
Trump said the US could lower tariffs, but emphasised that China must reciprocate with actions benefiting American interests.

“I want them to start buying soybeans, at least in the amount that they were buying before. And I believe they'll be able to do that,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, adding that he does not want China to “play the rare earth game with us.”

China imported no soybeans from the U.S. in September, the first time this year imports were zero, as imports from the U.S. fell to zero from 1.7 million metric tons in the same period last year, data from China's General Administration of Customs showed on Monday (October 20).

Regarding tariffs on China, Trump said the United States “can lower” what China has to pay in tariffs, but China has to “do things for us too.”

“I want to help China. I want to, I'm not looking to hurt China,” he added.