Representatives from California's agriculture and food industries are calling for greater trade stability and stronger bilateral cooperation between China and the United States, saying demand in China for high-quality agricultural and food products remains strong despite trade tensions and shifting global supply chains, with many companies continuing to view the Chinese market as a long-term strategic priority.
Lindsay Tello, senior advisor for trade policy at the Almond Board of California, said California almond exports to China have been affected by tariffs introduced during the trade dispute between the two countries, but Chinese demand for California almonds has remained "important".
"China remains an extremely important market, and we're really proud of our long partnership," Tello told China Daily.
According to Tello, the Almond Board of California has operated in China for more than 30 years and invested over $75 million in market development and research. She said California almond exports to China previously reached between $200 million and $300 million annually before the trade tensions, when China was among the industry's top export markets. By 2025, however, China had fallen from the top-five spot due to rising tariffs and shifting trade flows.
