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American soybeans, processed here in a plant in North Dakota, are one of the most exported products to China. REUTERS / Dan Koeck

The suspension by Beijing of the purchase of US agricultural products represents a new stage in the trade war with the United States. The first steps were taken that night.

Shortly after an official statement was posted online at midnight, Chinese companies were ordered to suspend their purchases of US agricultural products .

China does not rule out imposing additional tariffs on agricultural products purchased in the United States for transactions entered into after August 3. The value of imports likely to be the target of these new taxes has not been specified.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce estimates that Donald Trump's decision to tax all 300 billion Chinese products from September is a serious departure from the consensus reached between the US president and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during their summit meeting. G20 in Osaka, June 29th.

Before the trade dispute, China was the largest buyer of American soybeans . It imported up to 30 million tons a year. Last year, purchases of US agricultural products totaled $ 9 billion. In addition to soybeans, the Chinese also bought sorghum, wheat, milk, pork and cotton.