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The European Union’s executive arm is preparing to ask the bloc’s governments for the green light to start negotiations with the United States on a free-trade deal, highlighting hopes of keeping at bay the threat of American tariffs on foreign cars.

President Donald Trump expressed optimism that U.S.-China trade talks in Beijing are progressing well, as Chinese authorities planned to give a statement after the latest round of negotiations.

China is back in the market for U.S. soybeans after taking a holiday break as Washington and Beijing plan more trade discussions.

BEIJING — China’s government said Dec. 27 it has made plans with Washington for talks in January aimed at ending a tariff battle that threatens to depress global trade.

China resumed buying U.S. soybeans, bringing some relief to farmers in President Donald Trump’s heartland as President Xi Jinping works toward a trade deal with his American counterpart.

China is moving toward cutting its trade-war tariffs on imported U.S.-made cars, a step already claimed by President Donald Trump as a concession won during trade talks in Argentina.

China and the United States have reached agreement in the sectors of agriculture, autos and energy, and China will immediately start implementing that consensus, a government spokesman said.

U.S. farmers are pleased that President Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to a trade truce, but they’re not rejoicing just yet. That won’t come until they see ships full of their soybeans headed to China.

For a soybean farmer in Iowa or Illinois, it may be premature to celebrate the ceasefire in the trade war between the U.S. and China.

President Donald Trump’s trade war with China is set to prompt a shift in the U.S. farm industry as growers switch to other crops.