Ricketts Urges Trump Administration to Support Nebraska’s Farmers and Ranchers, Hold China Accountable on Trade Agreements

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) sent a letter to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer expressing the importance of foreign market access for Nebraska’s beef and soybean producers. The letter was sent ahead of the trade negotiations set to take place during President Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping this week. It urges the Administration to ensure that Communist China follows through on its purchasing agreements. China is the world’s largest importer of soybeans, importing over 60 percent of all available global stocks. Historically, the United States has been a supplier of choice for the Chinese market. Communist China has failed to follow through on trade commitments with the United States. This uncertainty undercuts market access for American producers. In the 2018 Phase I Agreement, China did not fulfill its soybean purchase commitment. In October 2025, China agreed to purchase 25 million metric tons of soybeans annually. Communist China restored market access to some of our beef processing facilities earlier this year. Many facilities that should have access under the Phase I agreement are still suspended. This letter encourages the administration to expand market access for these agriculture commodities and hold Communist China accountable to its existing trade commitments. The letter reads: “Nebraska is the nation’s fifth-largest agricultural exporter, with nearly $8 billion in agricultural exports last year.  We lead the nation in beef and veal exports and are a top exporter of corn, feed grains, and soybeans. Nebraska farmers and ranchers sell these commodities to customers across the globe, including in Communist China. However, unfair trading practices and unreliable market access have particularly impacted Nebraska’s soybean and beef producers.” Full text of the letter: Dear Ambassador Greer, Thank you for your continued work to expand markets for our agricultural producers by securing historic trade deals that ensure fair market access.  While American producers have spent decades building markets in Communist China, they continue to face unfair trading practices and uncertainty from Beijing.  As bilateral trade discussions continue during Xi Jinping’s visit, I urge the administration to secure additional market access for U.S. agricultural commodities and ensure Communist China upholds its existing commitments. Nebraska is the nation’s fifth-largest agricultural exporter, with nearly $8 billion in agricultural exports last year.  We lead the nation in beef and veal exports and are a top exporter of corn, feed grains, and soybeans. Nebraska farmers and ranchers sell these commodities to customers across the globe, including in Communist China.  However, unfair trading practices and unreliable market access have particularly impacted Nebraska’s soybean and beef producers. Communist China is the world’s largest importer of soybeans, importing over 60 percent of globally traded soybeans.  Historically, the United States has been a supplier of choice for the Chinese market.  Under your leadership, the Trump administration has secured new commitments from Beijing to purchase significant quantities of U.S. agricultural products including soybeans.  In the past, Beijing has repeatedly failed to follow through on its agreements including under the Phase One Agreement.  I urge you to continue monitoring Beijing’s purchases and ensure continued follow-through on their commitments. The May 2026 deal also made notable progress toward restoring market access for U.S. beef, but there is still work to be done.  Communist China restored some market access by renewing licenses they allowed to expire for more than 400 U.S. beef facilities.  Many facilities are still suspended.  Under the Phase One agreement, Beijing agreed to accept food meeting international standards and provide a clear path towards resolution if a particular exporter demonstrated a pattern of failing to meet standards.  Communist China has not implemented this portion of the agreement.  Instead, Beijing continues to hold U.S. exporters to an unpublished maximum residue limit for certain hormones, and these limits are enforced with an unknown testing regime.  Beijing also suspends licenses based on singular instances of non-compliance with these opaque standards.  The lack of transparency and inconsistent enforcement has directly harmed Nebraskan producers.  The bilateral discussions provide another opportunity to make progress on restoring market access for American beef. Nebraska farmers and ranchers can compete with anyone in the world when given fair and reliable access to foreign markets.  Thank you for your continued leadership in securing trade deals that expand opportunities for our producers.  More work remains, and I am committed to working with you to give our farmers and ranchers a stable, level playing field to compete and win on. Read the letter here .