Despite the current round of tariff battles between the United States and China, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) continues to work to strengthen ties in China with agriculture officials, trade groups and others to create new and long-lasting connections.

Those ties, over time, will be key to building access to a large and fast-growing Chinese market for soybeans, pork, beef and other key Iowa products, according to Dave Miller, IFBF director of research and commodity services. Market access will be critical in the coming years as the Chinese diet changes and there is growing...