Foreign Policy

Farmers Could Bear Brunt Of US-China Trade War

Agriculture is a big business in Midwestern states, and China is one of their biggest customers.

Farmers Could Bear Brunt Of US-China Trade War
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Now that China levied retaliatory tariffs against the U.S., analysts fear American farmers will bear the brunt of the trade war. 

Beijing imposed import duties on $34 billion worth American goods after the U.S. implemented tariffs of the same value on goods coming from China. 

President Donald Trump's import taxes seemed to focus on products that use metals and alloys. The U.S. imposed tariffs on washing machines, solar panels and airplane parts as well as certain types of ships, vehicles and boats.

But President Xi Jinping's tariffs mostly targeted food products, including beef, pork, and poultry; apples, cherries and avocados; a variety of seafoods; and whiskey. 

NBC reports the trade dispute could cost farmers more than $100 million a year in Midwest states like Missouri. Agriculture is a big business there, and China is one of their biggest customers.