Farmers around the United States say they are deeply concerned over President Donald Trump's plans, to impose an additional five percent tariff on a list of three hundred billion dollars worth of Chinese imports.

CGTN's Dan Williams spoke with several farmers about this decision in Decatur, Illinois.

The U.S. agricultural industry has faced a fair bit of turbulence in recent years. And prospects for the future look far from stable. The Farm Progress Show is the largest outdoor farm event in the United States. But weighing heavy on the shoulders of manufacturers and farmers is the trade dispute between the United States and China. With a further hike in tariffs and retaliatory tariffs from both sides on the way, stress is only building. And there were few signs of a breakthrough at an agricultural policy forum, that included U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, who spoke about emergency aid funding for farmers.

SONNY PERDUE US SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE "Farmers are at the point of the spear. They are more productive. They have an export surplus and the President understands that. That is why he has authorized us to use the CCC dollars to fill in the gaps until we can get China to come to the table to resolve the trade issues that have been there for years."

For some farmers attending the event, there appeared to be a frustration with the apparent lack of progress.

BILL GORDON AMERICAN SOYBEAN ASSOCIATION "As you saw over the weekend with the five percent increase in tariffs on soybeans, that doesn't move our pile, that doesn't get our deal done. And to hear the secretary say that there is not really any real news coming out, was a little disappointing."

DAN WILLIAMS DECATUR, ILLINOIS "This farm show is taking place in the state of Illinois the largest producer of soybeans in all the U.S. The trade dispute has had a considerable impact here with exports to China falling dramatically."

Total American agricultural exports to China dropped from 24 billion dollars in 2014 to 9.1 billion dollars last year, according to the American Farm Bureau. A further fall appears likely with exports down 1.3 billion dollars during the first half of 2019. Adam Nielsen is the Illinois Farm Bureau's Director of National Legislation and Policy Development. He has this message for the region's farmers.

ADAM NIELSEN ILLINOIS FARM BUREAU "You are going to have to make long term plans based on the fact that you have lost this enormous market. And that is not a happy thought right now."

The Farm Progress Show demonstrates the very latest technology available in U.S. farming. Visitors can view enormous combines and even pose with Nascar drivers. But it would appear that this is an industry very much concerned about its future direction. Dan Williams, CGTN, Decatur, Illinois.