South Dakota Soybean Association Executive Director Jerry Schmitz was among those attending the signing of the U.S. China phase one agreement on Wednesday. He says the deal and the $80 billion of ag purchases China has committed to are very important for all aspects of U.S. agriculture, but especially soybean growers and pork producers.

Schmitz says the phase one deal has components included that will lead to less trade protectionism.

He says the trade pact will help lessen hunger and stabilize the world economy.

Schmitz says getting the phase one deal done makes the economic picture brighter for U.S. soybean growers. They struggled through a difficult 2019 with the effects of the trade war on top of weather challenges and low commodity prices.