DES MOINES ( Iowa Capital Dispatch ) - U.S. soybean farmers and lawmakers said the Chinese purchase of several shiploads of U.S. soybeans indicated a positive step in trade negotiations between the two counties.

Reuters reported Wednesday that COFCO, a Chinese state-owned food processing company, purchased about 180,000 metric tons of soybeans from the U.S.

The reported purchase, which Reuters attributed to “two trade sources” is the first purchase China has made since harvest season began on the latest U.S. soybean crop.

The country has also bought soybeans from Argentina and continues to purchase from Brazil , leaving soybean farmers and farm industry groups concerned they have lost a key international market.

The purchase comes toward the end of harvest season for many farm

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