Farm groups are continuing to put pressure on President Donald Trump to find a resolution to the China trade dispute, as U.S. Department of Agriculture officials remain heavily involved in the talks involving the two nations.

Eighteen U.S. agricultural organizations sent a letter to Trump late last week, expressing hope that he will “prioritize negotiations with China to resolve many longstanding obstacles to U.S. agricultural exports while avoiding mutually destructive tariffs.”

The organizations agree that there are certainly major problems in the U.S. trade relationship with China, and they stated that the Trump administration has “rightfully identified many unfair trading practices by China that harm the U.S. economy.” The groups want to see a “major recalibration of our trade relationship with China” that would result in U.S. producers “receiving the full benefits of China’s accession to the World Trade Organization.”

Instead of seeing tariffs imposed, the groups support “establishing normal commercial relations with China based on predictability, transparency, and market openness.” These organizations hope that there will be serious, productive, substantive negotiations that will result in “durable market access” for U.S. producers and “policymaking transparency” by Chinese authorities.

“The reputation of U.S. agriculture as a reliable supplier to the world is critical to the future of the industry,” the groups wrote on May 31. “We strongly encourage negotiations leading to open and predictable trade, particularly in cooperation with other countries in the region that share our concerns about China’s mercantilist policies.”

The following organizations signed the letter to the president: 

American Farm Bureau Federation

American Soybean Association

National Association of Wheat Growers

National Barley Growers Association

National Corn Growers Association

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

National Sorghum Producers

National Sunflower Association

United Fresh Produce Association

U.S. Canola Association

U.S. Dry Bean Council

U.S. Grains Council

U.S. Soybean Export Council

U.S. Wheat Associates

USA Dry Pea & Lentil Council

USA Poultry & Egg Export Council

USA Rice Federation

Western Growers

Over the weekend, Administration officials, led by Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, concluded a series of meetings in Beijing with a delegation from the government of China, as part of ongoing trade discussions.

Ross was accompanied by United States Ambassador to China Terry Branstad, Under Secretary of Treasury for International Affairs David Malpass, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney, and United States Trade Representative Chief Agricultural Negotiator Ambassador Gregg Doud.

Additional officials and technical experts from the Department of Commerce, Department of Treasury, United States Trade Representative, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Energy also participated in the talks.

The meetings focused on reducing the United States’ trade deficit by facilitating the supply of agricultural and energy products to meet China’s growing consumption needs, which will help support growth and employment in the United States.

The United States officials "conveyed President Donald J. Trump’s clear goal for achieving a fair trading relationship with China," according to a White House statement.

The delegations will now report back to receive guidance on the path forward.

Sources: U.S. Wheat Associates, the White House