US President Donald Trump has imposed an additional 145% tariffs on all Chinese imports, reversing his earlier pause on “reciprocal” levies. However, China is refusing to back down, threatening to fight until the end if the US continues to escalate tensions. The trade war between the two nations has led China to diversify its soybean imports from the US.
China buys mainly agricultural products from the US, including soybeans, and already took a hit during Trump’s first term in the earlier trade war. The US soybean exports to China are now subject to a total tariff of 135%, resulting from the 10% tariff imposed on certain agricultural products in March plus the new 125% levy.
Brazil has emerged as a winner in the previous trade war, with Chinese imports of soybeans surging over the years. With production expected to rise this year, China could increase its imports from Brazil and other South American countries. The US agricultural sector lost around $27 billion during the 2018 trade war, mainly due to soybean-related losses.
China is seeking allies beyond Brazil to counter US tariffs and expand trade cooperation. Beijing announced it would work with Southeast Asian Nations countries to strengthen communication and coordination, while also discussing restarting talks on trade relief and electric vehicles with EU officials.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/13/business/american-farmer-china-trade-trump-intl-hnk-dg/index.html