After months of waiting, Iowa farmers finally got some better news last week about a potential trade deal with Japan. But trade relations with China continued to be very tense, as the White House said it would impose additional tariffs on Chinese imports.

Trade talks with Japan are picking up momentum after Japanese elections were completed in late July. Trade officials are targeting a September time frame for a limited deal that would include agriculture.

Steve Censky, deputy U.S. agriculture secretary, told Iowa Farm Bureau leaders in Washington, D.C., recently that the Trump administration is pushing hard for a trade deal with Japan that would be as good or better...