Posted on May, 1, 2025 at 10:05 pm
China’s grain supply is secure despite the ongoing trade war with the United States, a top government planning official said.
Zhao Chenxin, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, noted that US crops such as soybeans, corn and sorghum that are used as mainly feed grains in China “can be easily substituted” and that the global supply is “quite sufficient,” according to a Xinhua news agency report.
He said China’s domestic grain reserves are abundant and its grain imports from the United States only accounted for a very small proportion of domestic consumption in 2024.
“Even if we stop buying feed grains and oilseeds from the United States, there would be minimal impact on China’s grain supply,” Zhao said.
As of April 22, the United States had imposed a minimum 145% tariff on Chinese exports, while China has raised its minimum tariff rate on imports from the United States to 125%.
Select US agricultural imports to China are facing steeper levies: wheat 140%, corn 140%, meat 135% to 145%, sorghum 135% and soybeans 135%.
Zhao said he is confident in China’s ability to maintain grain self-sufficiency and ensure national food security, pointing to sustained efforts such as boosting production capacity and diversifying import sources.
In March, China announced it would set a production target of about 700 million tonnes for 2025. This marks a higher goal compared to its 2024 target of 650 million tonnes, after a record harvest of 706.5 million tonnes last year.
China also raised its 2025 budget for stockpiling grain, edible oils and other materials 6.1% from a year ago to 131.66 billion yuan ($18.12 billion), according to an official report.
China, the world’s largest importer of agricultural goods for its 1.4 billion people, brought in more than 157 million tonnes of grains and soybeans last year but has been actively seeking to lower its dependence on imports.
Source: World Grain