Trump doubles down with $100b in new tariffs

Many US lawmakers, especially from Midwest farm states, have voiced deep concern about how a trade war with China will impact their local economies and the mid-term election later this year. Eight out of the top 10 soybean-producing and exporting states in the US voted for Trump in 2016.

Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, a major soybean exporter to China, said farmers and ranchers should not bear the brunt of any trade war.

"The Administration knew that if it imposed tariffs on Chinese goods, China would retaliate against US agriculture," he said in a statement.

Senator Deb Fischer, a Republican from Nebraska, tweeted on Wednesday that the proposed retaliation from China will have a negative impact on the state of Nebraska.

"@POTUS must negotiate with the Chinese in a constructive way to get good trade results for our farmers and ranchers," she said.

Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai said in a meeting with US Acting Secretary of State John Sullivan on Wednesday that China is always ready to continue and intensify its dialogue and communication with the US side on any possible economic or trade issues. "But, we need reciprocity. Our goodwill has to be met by the same degree of goodwill," he said.

Cui warned that if anybody tries to hurt the interests of the Chinese people, China will certainly fight back.