Chinese Trade Officials canceled a visit to the U.S. Farm Belt after wrapping up trade talks. There is no explanation as to why they are cutting their trip short. As previously reported, the Chinese delegation, led by Vice Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Jun, had planned follow-on visits to Bozeman, Montana, and Omaha, Nebraska. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue had billed the trip as a way to build “goodwill” between the two countries.
The farm tours were to be carried out not by the USDA, but through the offices of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, the U.S.'s lead negotiators. The secretary was hopeful that ongoing talks with China will build momentum towards a broader trade resolution.
Meanwhile, President Trump has said he doesn’t feel he needs to secure a trade deal with China before next year’s election, but adds that if an agreement were to be reached between now and next fall, it “would probably be a positive” for his campaign.
We will have updates to this story on Rural Evening News.
