While discussing what measures the Administration has taken to bolster the unsteady economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump said he’s confident China will fulfill its ag purchases as outlined in the Phase 1 trade agreement, bringing some relief to U.S. farmers.

Trump said to media this week that China is, “buying anywhere from US$40 billion to US$50 billion worth of our agricultural product that would have a huge impact on our farmers.” China has yet to deliver on a key component of the phase one trade deal with the United States the countries signed in January, with the coronavirus pandemic proving an obstacle to implementation.

Other components of the plan are also pending. The intellectual property protection action plan was supposed to be delivered 30 working days after the agreement came into force on Feb. 15. Thirty working days expired at the beginning of April, and according to other news reports, no plan has been released. China has not asked for an extension, arguing that the action plan is not in fact late based on the number of actual working days in China due to shutdowns.

Changes outlined in the Phase 1 deal included: Increased agriculture purchases; a more predictable, efficient, science- and risk-based regulatory process for evaluation and authorization of agricultural biotechnology products; improvements to sanitary and phytosanitary measures; and intellectual property protection for agriculture, among others.

According to documents released by the White House outlining details of the deal, China’s imports of U.S. agricultural products, “such as soybeans, cotton, grains, meats, ethanol, seafood, and the full range of other agricultural products,” will total at least $80 billion over the next two years.

ASA has actively advocated for many of the improvements itemized in White House summary documents of the deal and is hopeful the agreement will lead to additional measures that restore open trade between the two countries, including a negotiated solution in the next phase that removes tariffs on American soybeans shipped to China.