07.02.19

Hoeven Statement on U.S.-China Agreement to Resume Trade Negotiations & Delay Tariff Increases

China Agrees to Additional Agriculture Commodity Purchases

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached an agreement at the G20 Summit to resume trade negotiations and delay imposing new tariffs. Prior to this, China also agreed to additional agriculture commodity purchases, including a purchase of more than 500,000 metric tons of soybeans.

“We’ve been urging the administration to continue moving forward with trade talks and secure trade deals with China and other nations as soon as possible,” Hoeven said. “We appreciate the president’s efforts to do just that and get the negotiations with China back on track. At the same time, the commodity purchases by China are a welcome boost to the farm economy, however, our producers ultimately need access to foreign markets. Accordingly, we should move to approve the USMCA, which needs to originate in the House, and finalize a deal with Japan, both of which will increase the pressure on China to reach an agreement.” 

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