— In response to tariffs levied on imports by the Trump Administration, Mexico on Thursday doubled its tariff on U.S. pork, and China on Friday is set to implement 25 percent tariffs on pork, soybeans and tobacco from the U.S.

The tariffs will make U.S. products more expensive in those countries, encouraging foreign buyers to find cheaper suppliers elsewhere around the world.

North Carolina farmers depend on those foreign markets to stay afloat. The state produces the most tobacco in the country and is the second-largest pork producer in the U.S. China and Mexico also are two of the state's top trading partners for agricultural goods.

The state's agriculture leaders worry about what the tariffs could cost North Carolina's biggest industry.

"Probably what's most problematic about the tariffs is that, why should agriculture have to be at the point of the spear and take all the retaliation for other industries when the administration was going after aluminum and steel?" North Carolina Farm Bureau President Larry Wooten said. "Agriculture always, always gets the brunt of the retaliation."

State Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said agricultural exports to China, Mexico and Canada, which also is slapping tariffs on U.S. goods, were worth more than $1.1 billion last year to North Carolina farmers.

"It looks like every trade war that we’ve ever been involved in. Agriculture in the United states becomes a target, I guess, because it’s so big," Troxler said. "Everybody eats, so if you want to hit somebody in the belly, so to speak, go for agriculture."

Farmers had hoped for months that the threat of tariffs were simply a negotiating tactic in trade negotiations, but no new trade deals are in place.

"Our farmers are pawns in that whole discussion," Wooten said, noting that it takes years for individual farmers, industries and states to build international trade relationships.

"They’re not made government to government. Trade relationships are made by individuals having relationships with other individuals. They’re made by companies having relationships with other companies," he said. "What it’s taken many years to develop, in many cases, in a trade relationship, a trade partnership, can be snuffed out in just a matter of days or hours as it relates to governments increasing tariffs."

Troxler said he's especially worried about the amount of pork North Carolina exports to Mexico.

"That could probably have a more dramatic effect immediately on farmers in North Carolina than anything else," he said.

Andy Curliss, chief executive of the North Carolina Pork Council, said Mexico and China combine to purchase 12 to 15 percent of the state's pork products.

"North Carolina pork producers are concerned that ongoing negotiations could harm farmers, suppliers and other businesses – with increased costs to consumers – but we remain optimistic that resolution will be reached that is beneficial to all," Curliss said in a statement.

Similarly, Wooten notes, China has been the largest market for North Carolina tobacco in recent years.

"Seventy-five percent of that tobacco's got to be exported, and the Chinese have said they're not purchasing our U.S. tobacco until this is settled. So, it's really unnerving," he said.

The soybean futures market has already taken a hit, and the tariff on soybeans hasn't even gone into effect yet, Wooten added.

"We won’t really know the impact until we get into it, in terms of how much the retaliations going to hurt," he said.

Troxler said he remains hopeful trade deals can be reached before the tobacco markets open next month.

"If the end result is we have access to more markets, if these are free markets, then we will in the long run be better off. But in the meantime, it looks like there's going to be some pain," he said.