At a signing ceremony held in Des Moines Thursday, China agreed to purchase 12.5 million metric tons or 441 million bushels of U.S. soybeans through this next marketing year. U.S. Soybean Export Council Chairman Jim Miller who farms near Belden, Nebraska was at the event

He says Chinese demand for protein is increasing and will continue to grow meaning they’ll likely want to purchase more U.S. soybeans in the future.

Miller says other U.S. commodity groups were represented at the signing ceremony and the Chinese also bought U.S. pork and beef.

Miller says next week Chinese officials will be in Washington D.C. meeting with the U.S. Commerce department working on various trade issues.