US Seeks Action On China's Farm And Mineral Pledges In Trade Call

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer pressed China to fulfil commitments on agricultural purchases, rare earths and other critical minerals in a video call with Vice Premier He Lifeng on 6th November. China, in turn, raised concerns about recent American trade restrictions.

The US Trade Representative's account says Greer called for concrete action on China's past commitments. Treasury's readout says Bessent sought full and immediate implementation of the Busan arrangement and warned that further progress depends on results.

Neither side announced a new trade agreement. The call instead brought existing promises and unresolved restrictions back into focus, with Washington saying it would monitor implementation and Beijing calling for differences to be managed through continued talks.

What Washington wants implemented

The areas Greer named affect both access to China's market for US agricultural producers and access to Chinese mineral supplies for manufacturers. The commitments stretch back beyond Friday's call.

In its 1st November 2025 account of the agreement reached in South Korea, the White House said China would purchase at least 25 million metric tonnes of US soybeans in each of 2026, 2027 and 2028. It also described general export licences for rare earths and other minerals intended to benefit US end users and suppliers.

Further commitments followed this year's Beijing summit. A 17th May White House fact sheet said China would buy at least $17 billion of US agricultural products annually in 2027 and 2028, with 2026 prorated, in addition to the earlier soybean commitments. It also said China would address shortages involving several critical minerals and restrictions on processing equipment and technology.

These are Washington's descriptions of China's commitments, rather than figures showing purchases or shipments completed. In its 25th September summit account, the White House still described work to address mineral shortages and restore shipment levels.

China raises US restrictions

China's account published by Xinhua on the government website says He expressed serious concern about recent US economic and trade restrictions. The report, published at 00:01 UTC on 7th November, dates the call to the previous evening in Beijing.

It describes discussions about implementing the leaders' Beijing and Washington agreements and earlier trade talks. It says both sides agreed to continue using their economic and trade consultation mechanism, strengthen cooperation and manage differences.

The readouts leave the immediate disputes unspecified: Treasury does not identify the recent Chinese actions Bessent challenged, and China's account does not name the American restrictions He raised. No fresh purchase totals, mineral shipment results or timetable for another negotiating round were announced.