President Donald Trump of the United States announced on the 9th (local time) that he would discuss China's suspension of imports of American soybeans in a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
During a Cabinet meeting at the White House that day, when asked by reporters how he would address the issue of China imposing export restrictions on rare earth elements and suspending imports of American soybeans, President Trump responded, "We both import and export, but we are importing a large volume from China. Perhaps we may have to stop that."
This is interpreted as meaning that the United States could impose sanctions on imports of Chinese products in response to China's suspension of American soybean imports.
However, President Trump added, "I am not exactly sure what that would entail, and it may be a bit premature," but emphasized, "I am confident we can resolve the soybean issue." He also stated, "President Xi has matters he wants to discuss with me, and I have matters I want to discuss with him. One of those is the soybean issue."
China is the largest importer of American soybeans, but this year's harvest season saw no purchases of American soybeans at all, causing significant damage to American farmers.
Previously, on the 1st, President Trump also commented on his social media platform, Truth Social, "Our country's soybean farmers are being harmed as China has suspended purchases solely for 'negotiation' reasons," and announced, "I will meet President Xi in four weeks, and soybeans will be one of the main topics of discussion."
President Trump and President Xi are scheduled to meet at the end of this month on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea.
The two leaders are expected to focus on trade issues, including tariffs. Scott Besant, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, has stated that President Trump and President Xi will discuss the soybean issue at this meeting.
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