The White House's move to punish China for trade practices, specifically in appropriating trade secrets from the U.S. tech sector, could hit an unlikely target — Michigan's soybean fields.

Before President Trump's directive Thursday for the U.S. Trade Representative to impose tariffs on $60 billion worth of Chinese goods and to limit the country's ability to invest in the U.S. companies, China said it would respond to the proposed tariffs with its own — on soybeans.

Soybeans are Michigan's largest food export. The state exports more than $700 million worth annually. As much as 60 percent of the state's soybean production is exported, according to the Michigan Soybean Promotion Association.

In the U.S., China accounts for roughly $14 billion in soybean exports from the U.S. With roughly 300,000 soybean farmers exporting about 1 billion bushels to China, any new tariffs on the product could prove damaging.

Tariffs impacting Michigan's $1.7 billion soybean economy, which has more than 10,000 farms, could reverberate through the state's agricultural sector.

The majority of the soybeans in the state are grown for soybean meal to feed domestic dairy cows, beef cattle, chickens, turkeys and hogs. But tariffs from China impacting soy exports have the potential to raise soy prices domestically, as pressure is put on the state's farmers, and could therefore impact the price of milk, cheese and meats.

The potential soybean tariffs would be another blow to Michigan in the White House's war against trade deficits. Earlier this week, the U.S. implemented a 25 percent tariff on imported steel and a 10 percent tariff on imported aluminum, with certain countries and trading partners carved out.

Early speculation was that the tariffs could impact thousands of Michigan jobs, as rising steel prices forced cuts in automotive production.

The tit-for-tat trade war with China is sparked by the Trump administration's incorrect belief that China's $375 billion trade surplus with the U.S. is the result of unfair trade practices. In truth, it's representative of wealthier U.S. consumers spending more than Chinese consumers, and Chinese desire to hold U.S. dollars because our currency and economy is the world's most stable.

The tariffs are also likely to reduce U.S. exports, whether soybeans or Levi's, causing the dollar to become more valuable by scarcity in the global market. A strong dollar means U.S. exports are less attractive, therefore maintaining deficit stasis.

Plus, China, the world's largest soybean consumer, has options that could cause longstanding pain to U.S. exports if China shifts from buying U.S. soybeans to emerging competitors, like Brazil, which is expected to overtake the U.S. as the largest producer within the decade, according to the United Nations.

A long-term shift to exporting from U.S. competitors could further erode other agriculture exports, such as corn and other products. The result? Fewer farmers and higher prices for consumers.