China Buys 120,000 Tons of U.S. Wheat Amid Trade Thaw

Beijing, Nov. 6 - China has purchased two cargoes of U.S. wheat totaling about 120,000 metric tons for December shipment, marking the first such imports since October last year and indicating initial steps toward easing trade tensions following a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in South Korea last week.

The purchases include one cargo of U.S. soft white wheat and one of spring wheat, according to traders with knowledge of the deals. This development comes after Beijing announced on Wednesday that it would eliminate additional tariffs on certain U.S. agricultural products effective November 10. The measures remove a 15 percent duty on U.S. wheat imposed in March and a 10 percent tariff on soybeans, though U.S. soybean shipments to China will still face a 13 percent tariff. Officials from China's Ministry of Commerce described the tariff adjustments as a move to encourage imports based on market principles, emphasizing competitive pricing, quality and sufficient supply.

In addition to the wheat, a shipment of U.S. sorghum has arrived in China since the leaders' meeting, according to Mark Wilson, chairman of the U.S. Grains and BioProducts...