China Agrees to Purchase 10 Million Tons of US Coal Annually

China has committed to purchasing at least 10 million metric tons of American coal each year in 2027 and 2028, according to the White House. This agreement was announced following a state visit and meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The coal deal is part of the Trump administration's efforts to bolster the U.S. coal industry. In addition to coal, the two countries reached a separate trade agreement valued at $30 billion, covering non-sensitive goods. This accord aims to provide more favorable terms for U.S. agricultural products, medical devices, fish, wood, and cosmetics. In return, U.S. imports from China under this arrangement include small appliances, toys, holiday decorations, and children's car seats.

"We’ve actually reached agreement with the Chinese on a number of these things," U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told CNBC. The White House stated that the agreements come as President Trump seeks to increase exports and lower consumer costs amid concerns about inflation.

This development follows previous trade discussions where China had pledged to buy U.S. soybeans and $17 billion in agricultural products, though reports indicate shortfalls in meeting those commitments. China's economy is heavily reliant on coal, though the country has previously committed to ceasing overseas coal plant financing.

The trade discussions also occurred in the context of President Trump telling President Xi that China's support for Iran was "totally unacceptable," according to the U.S. ambassador to China. In a notable linguistic shift, the two leaders also agreed to use the term "super intelligence" instead of "artificial intelligence" to describe emerging technologies.