FILE: Iowa, USA - Nov 2017 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Aerial shot of farmland
2. Various of machines harvesting soybeans, pouring soybeans into vehicle

FILE: Fairmount, Illinois, USA - Date Unknown (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
3. Aerial shots of machines harvesting soybeans
4. Machine harvesting soybeans

Beijing, China - May 15, 2019 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
5. Gengshuang, spokesman for Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, walking to podium
6. Reporters
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Gengshuang, spokesman, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
"The claims are totally misleading. The U.S. farmers and consumers are innocent -- they were represented unwillingly. Recently, U.S. soybean, corn, wheat and other agriculture organizations issued a joint statement to voice their clear opposition to U.S. increase of tariffs on Chinese goods. The president of the of the National Corn Growers Association said American farmers need certainty, not more tariffs."

FILE: Colorado, USA - Aug 2018 (CGTN - No access Chinese mainland)
8. Various of corn field, farmer

Beijing, China - May 15, 2019 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
9. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Gengshuang, spokesman, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
"In fact, during the past few years, China has been the main buyer of U.S. agricultural produce. Take soybeans as an example. In 2017, 60 percent of soybeans produced in the United States were sold to China, and China was the largest export destination of American soybeans. But since the trade dispute broke out, U.S. export of soybeans to China dropped by large margins. As the president of the American Soybean Association said, the soybean market in China took the U.S. more than 40 years to build, and as this confrontation continues, the market will become increasingly difficult to recover."

FILE: New York City, USA - Date Unknown (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
10. Various of pedestrians
11. Various of clothes store, shoppers

Beijing, China - May 15, 2019 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
12. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Gengshuang, spokesman, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
"If the consumers do not end up paying, who will? According to a research published by U.S. economists, Washington's tariff war cost American companies and consumers 4.4 billion U.S. dollars a month last year. Relevant industry organizations published statements saying that it is a wrong action for the U. S. government to levy more tariffs on Chinese goods, and if the practice continues, it could cost an average American family up to 2,300 U.S. dollars a year. As is put forward more straightly by some American media, U.S. consumers are the cannon fodder in the trade war."

FILE: Los Angeles, California, USA - 2016 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
13. Various of cranes, containers at port

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that American farmers and consumers are paying for the U.S. government's tariff hikes and trade bullying.

Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang made the remarks at a regular press conference, responding to a question regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's claims that American farmers will be "one of the great beneficiaries" of the ongoing trade tensions and U.S. consumers won’t have to pay for increased tariffs on Chinese goods.

"The claims are totally misleading. The U.S. farmers and consumers are innocent -- they were represented unwillingly. Recently, U.S. soybean, corn, wheat and other agriculture organizations issued a joint statement to voice their clear opposition to U.S. increase of tariffs on Chinese goods. The president of the of the National Corn Growers Association said American farmers need certainty, not more tariffs," said Geng.

Geng pointed out that the patience of the American farmers is wearing thin. As the American Farmers Association noted, U.S. farmers are already fretting over problems such as price decline and natural disasters, and they cannot bear the brunt of China’s retaliatory tariffs. Other organizations pointed out that what U.S. farmers need are contracts, not government subsidies.

"In fact, during the past few years, China has been the main buyer of U.S. agricultural produce. Take soybeans as an example. In 2017, 60 percent of soybeans produced in the United States were sold to China, and China was the largest export destination of American soybeans. But since the trade dispute broke out, U.S. export of soybeans to China dropped by large margins. As the president of the American Soybean Association said, the soybean market in China took the U.S. more than 40 years to build, and as this confrontation continues, the market will become increasingly difficult to recover," said Geng.

Geng said it is against common sense that U.S. domestic consumers don't have to pay for their government's tariff hikes on Chinese products.

"If the consumers do not end up paying, who will? According to a research published by U.S. economists, Washington's tariff war cost American companies and consumers 4.4 billion U.S. dollars a month last year. Relevant industry organizations published statements saying that it is a wrong action for the U. S. government to levy more tariffs on Chinese goods, and if the practice continues, it could cost an average American family up to 2,300 U.S. dollars a year. As is put forward more straightly by some American media, U.S. consumers are the cannon fodder in the trade war," said Geng.

The spokesman said China advises the U.S. to heed the call of the international community and people from various sectors, carefully weigh its gains and losses, have a better understanding of the situation and get back on the right track as soon as possible.

"We advise the U.S. to make concerted efforts with China for an agreement beneficial to both sides on the basis of mutual respect," he said.

Washington announced a renewed 25 percent tariff hike on 200 billion U.S. dollars' worth of some 6,000 Chinese products ranging from textiles to electronics as of May 10, escalating trade frictions and violating the consensus reached to tackle trade disputes through consultations.

In response to the U.S. move, China on Monday announced that it will raise the rate of additional tariffs imposed on some of the U.S. products from June 1. China had earlier imposed additional tariffs on 60 billion dollars’ worth of U.S. imports, the rates of additional tariffs on some of the products will now be increased to 25 percent, 20 percent, and 10 percent.