(Photo: CGTN)

In response to the claim China has not been purchasing American agricultural products, Cong Liang, the secretary general of the National Development and Reform Commission, told a CCTV reporter in an interview that Chinese companies have already bought certain agricultural products, including soybeans, from the US but many have not yet been purchased due to issues such as uncompetitive pricing.

In the period between the G20 Osaka Summit and the end of July, 2.27 million tonnes of U.S. soybeans were shipped to China. The remaining 300,000 tonnes of the 14 million tonnes of soybeans from a deal signed by companies from both countries will be loaded in September.

Some Chinese companies have got in touch with US suppliers about purchasing soybeans, sorghum, wheat, corn, ethanol and other agricultural products since July 19.

As of the evening of August 2, deals have been made on 130,000 tonnes of soybeans, 120,000 tonnes of sorghum, 75,000 tonnes of hay, 60,000 tonnes of wheat, 40,000 tonnes of pork and pork products, 25,000 tonnes of cotton, 5,700 tonnes of dairy products, and 4,500 tonnes of processed fruits and 400 tonnes of fresh fruit. Chinese companies have applied for exemptions from tariffs imposed on these agricultural products to China's State Council Tariff Commission.

China and the US are highly complementary in the agricultural sector, and it is in the common interest of both countries to carry out agricultural trade, Cong said.

After the Osaka meeting between the two heads of state, China has actively demonstrated its sincerity in purchasing US agricultural products while making considerable progress, he continued.

Some American agricultural products cannot enter the Chinese market for uncompetitive pricing due to the tariffs US imposed in the trade war, Cong added. The price of American agricultural products is too high, making them lose competitiveness, he said.

He continued that this fully demonstrates that the trade war is a "double-edged swords" which hurt both countries.

Cong expressed hope for the US to adhere to the principles of the market economy and do more things that will benefit both sides, instead of carrying out behavior that are harmful and make unreasonable accusations, so as to remove obstacles and create conditions for the smooth trade of agricultural products between the two countries.