Now, the US may have increased tariffs with China, but Russia is one of the countries that may reap the benefits. China imports millions of tonnes of soya, meat and many other agricultural products, and Russia's exports to China have been increasing. In an exclusive interview with CGTN's Dan Ashby, the CEO of RusAgro, Russia's largest agricultural company, learned more about the opportunities the tariffs have in store.

President Trump's tariff fall-out with China may sting US-China trade, but there is at least one country waiting in the wings. Russia is moving up the rankings of world grain and fish exporters, and its trade with China is only rising.

"Hundreds of years ago, peasants cultivated crops under the scorching sun."

This may be a rosy portrayal of peasant life in Russia, but RusAgro is Russian farming's modern giant: a one point five billion dollar company that could cash in on new Chinese demand.

MAXIM BASOV CEO OF RUSAGRO "In fact we had troubles exporting even soya to China for a coming couple of years. But this year we see a big difference. There's big interest from Chinese companies to develop new sources of raw material. We're looking to sign out first direct contracts this year - especially this year. The benefit for Russia is the closeness of Russia to China. In fact, Russia can export to China in four different directions."

But how ready is Russia really?

DAN ASHBY MOSCOW "It has been Moscow's policy for years to pivot East, particularly in the face of punishing sanctions from the EU and the West. A growing trade fall-out between the US and China will only make that more urgent. The problem for Russia is that it can only do so much. The US sells millions of tonnes of soya for instance to China, and Russia can't produce that in the foreseeable future."

Russia needs better infrastructure, more fields and more factories to do that. But businesses insist that is coming.

In the meantime, Rusagro has this message:

MAXIM BASOV CEO OF RUSAGRO "Well there is nothing stable in this world, but since we are the company that is looking to expand, we're looking for such moments, because they create an opportunity for us. So please be ready, our competitors: we are coming."

And perhaps that is why businesses like this have a smile on their face. Dan Ashby, CGTN, Moscow.