STATEWIDE — Newly-proposed tariffs from China could strike deep in the heart of Texas. Among those products in the Chinese crosshairs are several Texas staples, including soybeans and beef. 

The tariffs would target around $50 billion worth of American goods, and would be in retaliation to tariffs aimed at Chinese goods proposed by the Trump administration. 

"The big question is whether this actually goes through," said Chuck DeVore, Vice President of National Initiatives at the right-leaning Texas Public Policy Foundation. 

Some remain worried that a premium placed on American beef and other agricultural products could drive down demand.

And while Texas stands to lose if tariffs are put in place, DeVore says this sort of tough trade talk is what's needed when negotiating with the Chinese. 

"A good opening way to get China's attention about the fact that they are not playing by the rules," DeVore said. 

President Trump's tariffs are aimed at curbing China's intellectual property theft. 

But there are worries it could stall progress made in other areas of the Chinese economy. Last fall the Chinese market opened up to American beef imports for the first time in 14 years. 

"All of a sudden that became an option," said Josh Eilers, the owner of Ranger Cattle, a ranch out east of Austin. 

Eilers says he's not too worried about China's threats to place tariffs on beef, and believes the Trump administration will negotiate trade deals that are in the best interest of Americans. 

"That they're looking out for us as individual cattle ranchers in Texas," Eilers said. 

And while Eilers trusts that President Trump knows what he's doing, he's also prepared to turn the president out to pasture if things don't turn out as planned. 

"One thing that's great about farmers is that they vote."