China signals that purchases of US soybeans hinge on tariff removal

BEIJING, Sept 25 (Reuters): The United States should remove what China described as unreasonable tariffs and create conditions to expand bilateral trade, a Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson said on Thursday when asked if China would purchase US soybeans.

China, the world's biggest buyer of soybeans, has yet to book any US soybean cargoes from its autumn harvest, traders have said, opting for South American supply instead.

US farmers stand to miss out on billions of dollars of soybean sales because of unresolved trade tensions that have halted exports to China.

Senior Chinese trade negotiator Li Chenggang on Monday met political and business leaders from the US Midwest, where the bulk of American soybeans are harvested, signalling that the world's second-largest economy could purchase some American soybeans ahead of more wide-ranging trade talks.