U.S. agriculture in the crosshairs
China has been the largest buyer of U.S. soybeans. Most purchases happen in fall and winter. But there are reports that China is already buying more soybeans from Brazil. Trump has asked the U.S. Agriculture Department to help farmers. Secretary Sonny Perdue has promised to announce a plan by the end of August.
But, the American Farm Bureau Federation tells CGTN that there are limited discretionary funds that could offset industry losses. The federation expects U.S. farmers to start feeling the pain in about 30 days.
In the end, the tariffs could hurt Trump politically too.
Key races in the November midterm congressional elections will take place in states that helped elect Trump. A U.S. Chamber of Commerce map shows those states will be among those hardest hit in a global trade war.
