Well, it looks like China’s back at the table and they’re hungry for soybeans again. According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, China has agreed to buy 25 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans annually for the next three years. That’s music to the ears of American farmers who’ve been sweating through trade wars, droughts, and more “agreements in principle” than a marriage counselor could count.

President Trump and China’s Xi Jinping appear to have worked out a truce — at least for now — that brings a little predictability to the world’s most unpredictable relationship. It’s the kind of headline that makes Wall Street grin and the Midwest sigh in relief. But before we declare victory and ride off into the amber waves of grain, let’s chew on what this really means.

A Big Win for the Heartland

First, credit where it’s due: American farmers have been through the wringer. When China stopped buying our soybeans years back, they turned to Brazil and Argentina. The result? U.S. farmers saw bins full of unsold beans and bills piling up like autumn leaves.

Now, with China pledging to buy again — and in such big numbers — there’s hope on the horizon. If Beijing follows through, that means more trucks hauling to the elevators, more checks coming in, and maybe even fewer worried prayers whispered over the dinner table.

As Secretary Bessent put it, “our great soybean farmers, who the Chinese used as political pawns, that’s off the table.” Amen to that. America’s farmers shouldn’t be pawns. They’re the backbone of this country.

Promises Are Easy

But let’s not get too comfortable just yet. China has promised big things before. They’ll smile for the cameras, sign a deal, and then buy half the beans they said they would once the news cycle moves on.

If this turns into real, trackable shipments, great. But if it’s another round of “we’ll get around to it later,” then farmers could still be stuck holding the bag. As Scripture reminds us, “In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury” (Proverbs 14:23). Talk is cheap; cargo ships are what count.

Trade and the Bigger Picture

This soybean announcement isn’t just about beans. It’s about balance. America and China have been locked in a power dance for years: tariffs, tech, rare earths, you name it. Every time we get close to a trade deal, something new flares up.

So, this is a thaw, not a peace treaty. If it helps calm the waters, that’s good for everyone, especially the farmers who’ve been tossed around by every wave of the trade storm.

But let’s remember, a nation’s strength isn’t measured only by trade numbers. It’s measured by how much we can stand on our own two feet. If this deal just puts us back on the same treadmill of dependency on China, we haven’t really learned much.

Faith, Stewardship, and Common Sense

I believe in stewardship: taking care of the land and the people God’s given us. America’s farmers do that every day. When policy helps them thrive, that’s not just good economics, it’s good morality.

At the same time, we shouldn’t let foreign powers hold our food supply hostage. God blessed this nation with rich soil, honest hands, and hard work. Let’s not sell that blessing short for the promise of cheap exports or political photo ops.

Bottom Line

So yes, this is good news. It’s a win for President Trump’s trade team, a boost for American farmers, and a hopeful sign for U.S.–China relations. But it’s also a test: will China actually follow through, or is this another “deal” that looks better on paper than on the loading docks?

I’m cautiously optimistic. Let’s celebrate the progress and then watch the follow-through like hawks on a field mouse.

Because in the end, America doesn’t just need China to buy our soybeans. America needs to keep faith with her farmers, the folks who rise before dawn, work by faith and sweat, and feed the world.