China has increased its purchases of US soybeans just days before a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The latest deals demonstrate Beijing’s commitment to buy more American agricultural products as both countries work to ease trade tensions.

State-owned Chinese companies booked at least four cargoes of US soybeans late last week, according to traders familiar with the transactions. The purchases amount to about 260,000 tons. The shipments are mainly scheduled for loading in December and January from the US Pacific Northwest and Gulf Coast, the traders said.

The purchases come after China crossed the halfway mark earlier this month on a commitment to buy at least 25 million tons of US soybeans every year through 2028. The pledge is part of an agreement between the two countries at a summit in South Korea last October.

Under the agreement, Beijing has also committed to purchase at least $17 billion worth of US farm products each year apart from the soybeans. However, purchases of other major US crops, including wheat and corn, have remained limited so far.

The two countries have also discussed reducing tariffs on selected goods. The discussions include energy supplies and agricultural shipments. Any progress on tariff reductions could encourage private Chinese traders to return to the US market and support efforts to meet both the soybean and broader agricultural purchase commitments.

Trump is scheduled to meet Xi in Washington later this week. The meeting comes after senior officials from both countries held talks aimed at addressing key economic and trade issues.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held discussions ahead of the leaders’ meeting. Both sides described the talks as constructive. The discussions covered several areas, including artificial intelligence and trade.

 Soybeans remain a major part of US-China agricultural trade, with China serving as one of the largest markets for American soybean exports.

The shipments booked for December and January also point to demand for US supplies beyond the immediate period around the leaders’ meeting. Further purchases of other US agricultural products will determine how quickly China moves toward its wider commitments under the trade agreement.