The United States and China recently restarted trade negotiations, but it’s likely to be a slow and arduous journey getting to a final deal and a resumption of large Chinese purchases of American agricultural products, an expert on U.S.-China business relations told Iowa Farm Bureau leaders last week in Washington, D.C.

“To be honest with you, where we are right now does not suggest any sort of quick resolution of the issues with China,” said Erin Ennis, senior vice president of the U.S.-China Business Council. “There is desire on both sides to come to a...