China's soybean purchases fall short of expectations and jeopardize agreement with the US

The trade truce signed at the end of October between United States President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping is already showing signs of fragility. This is indicated by an analysis published by the Dow Jones agency, highlighting that the two powers are intensifying internal moves to reduce vulnerabilities, and that some of the commitments made may not be fulfilled. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), China has purchased only 332,000 tons of U.S. soybeans since the end of October. The volume represents less than 3% of what Washington claims was promised by Beijing by January. The resumption of purchases was considered one of the pillars of the agreement after months of tension in the trans-Pacific dispute. Despite the warning sign, experts interviewed by the publication say it is still too early to consider a collapse of the truce. Daniel Kritenbrink, a partner at The Asia Group consultancy and former Assistant Secretary of State for East ...