Farmers in the US also fear the industry may head into a downward spiral, as tariffs take effect. CGTN's Dan Williams reports from Michigan.

A freezing morning in Elsie, Michigan, and David Williams is hard at work on his farm. But as he prepares to sow this year's crop, he is deeply concerned. The Trump administration's threat to impose more tariffs on China, led China to propose more tariffs of their own on a range of US products including soybeans. It has left many farmers on edge. Williams, who is also President of the Michigan Soybean Association, is worried about the current path the President is taking.

DAVID WILLIAMS PRESIDENT, MICHIGAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION "I would like him to step back and take a breath and think about how he got there in the first place. And not forget about us. It could put some farmers out of business. It could break them."

Soybeans are the number one US crop export worth some 24 billion dollars, of which 14 billion is sent to China. But US farmers have struggled in recent years, contending with plunging crop prices and lower incomes.

DAN WILLIAMS ELSIE, MICHIGAN "It's not just soybean farmers that are concerned by the potential tariffs. The wider farming industry would also feel the impact. And that could have long-term consequences."

Jim Byrum is President of the Michigan Agri-Business Association. He says if the tariffs take effect, US farming risks heading into a downward spiral.

JIM BYRUM PRESIDENT, MICHIGAN AGRI-BUSINESS ASSOCIATION "We will see major problems in rural America with grain elevators, fertilizer suppliers, even local hardware stores, diners, insurance agents. We won't be selling pickup trucks, we won't be selling much new farm equipment. We think we need a whole lot more conversation, a whole lot more dialogue, maybe a few less tweets and some back channel conversations to try to resolve the situation."

Michigan is also the third largest apple producing state, harvesting around 30 million bushels a year. Few of Michigan's apples are exported to China, with most of the exports grown in the state of Washington. But the tariffs could still have a significant impact on growers here. 

JEFF VANDERWERFF MICHIGAN APPLE GROWER "Washington's a 140 million bushel state, Michigan's a 30 million bushel state. So obviously, if those apples don't go overseas for export, then they have to go somewhere. Potentially they have to come here into our market place and that can create downward pressure."

Despite the freezing cold, farmers here are gearing up for the key planting and growing season. The plans have been made. It's too late for a radical change of direction. Many farmers are left in the position of simply hoping for the best. Dan Williams CGTN Elsie, Michigan.