China has cut tariffs on American corn, wheat, sorghum and other farm goods. The commerce ministry issued the tariff-reduction list jointly with the White House on Monday.

The move is part of a $60 billion reciprocal package agreed at the Trump-Xi summit. It covers 1,619 categories of US exports to China and 77 categories of Chinese goods headed the other way.

US soybeans are not on the list. They will still face an extra 10 per cent tariff. Traders warn that this rate is too high for private Chinese crushers to pay.

The announcement came days after the Washington summit between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The published list does not state when the cuts take effect.

Analysts say keeping soybeans out gives Beijing leverage ahead of the US midterm elections. Hutong Research said the farm tariffs are now a bargaining tool in the wider trade talks.

The tariff cuts cover farm goods worth billions of dollars a year. US farm groups welcomed the news. They said lower duties could lift corn and wheat exports in the coming season.