The White House has published details of a sweeping trade package between the United States and China, marking what could be the most significant thaw in economic relations between the two superpowers since tariff hostilities escalated during the trade war era. The agreements span critical minerals, agriculture, semiconductors, and tariff rollbacks.
What’s actually in the deal
The centerpiece is China’s commitment to eliminate export controls on rare earths and critical minerals destined for US end users. China currently dominates global rare earth processing. Removing export restrictions for American buyers could ease a pressure point that has quietly inflated costs across multiple industries.
On the agricultural front, China has pledged to purchase at least 12 million metric tons (MMT) of US soybeans in late 2025. That’s not a one-time gesture, either. The commitment extends to maintaining 25 MMT in annual purchases from 2026 through 2028, giving American farmers a multi-year demand floor that hasn’t existed in recent memory.
The US, for its part, is offering tariff relief. Washington will reduce reciprocal tariffs on Chinese imports by 10 percentage points and extend certain tariff exclusions through November 2026.
