China's trade pattern in agricultural commodities follows its
comparative advantage: it tends to import land-intensive
commodities (soybeans, cotton, barley, rubber, and oils made from
soybeans and palm kernels), and it exports labor-intensive
commodities (fish, fruits, vegetables, and processed agricultural
goods).
Historically, the United States has supplied a significant
portion of China's imports of soybeans, cotton, and wheat. In
recent years, exports of pork, corn, and distillers dried grains
have increased. Bilateral agricultural trade in 2011 consisted of
US$18.9 billion in U.S.
exports to China 
, and
US$4.0 billion in imports
from China . The
United States is a net exporter of bulk commodities (primarily
soybeans and cotton) to China. The leading markets for China's
agricultural exports are Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, and
South Korea. The United States imports fish and shellfish, juices,
garlic, mushrooms, and various processed foods and food ingredients
from China.
Major Player in World Markets
China has often been a major player in international markets. It
has been a major source of growth in world demand for soybeans
since the mid-1990s. Soybeans now account for more than half of the
value of U.S. agricultural exports to China.
Sudden and dramatic policy shifts, and
their subsequent effect on China's international trade profile,
make the country a relatively volatile player. In 1994 and 1995,
China abruptly increased its grain imports and cut off corn exports
as concerns about grain shortages and inflation became widespread.
China stopped importing wheat and boosted grain exports from 1997
to 2003. In 2008, China cut off grain imports, temporarily cut
tariffs for some products, and imported vegetable oil and pork to
add to government reserves as officials sought to slow rising food
prices.
China's government exerts control over trade of grains and other
key commodities through state-owned trading companies,
import/export quotas and licenses, export taxes, temporary tariff
reductions, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, tax waivers, and
subsidies. China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO)
in December 2001 reduced the government's control of trade. A
series of WTO commitments required China to cut tariffs, reduce the
monopoly power of state trading monopolies, eliminate export
subsidies, give equal treatment to imported and domestic products,
publish and seek comments on all trade regulations and base
phytosanitary rules on science. These commitments increased the
role of market forces in shaping China's agricultural trade, but
policies continue to influence trade as well.
Statistics