DES MOINES, Iowa — As Iowa celebrates the 40th anniversary of China President Xi Jinping’s visit to Iowa, discussions on tariffs challenge the countries’ friendship.

After placing a 145% U.S. tariff on Chinese goods, China imposed a 125% reciprocal tariff on American exports. Talks between the countries are tentative as both maintain that talks will create no progress.

California ports are expecting to see half the number of ships from China due to the tariffs. CEOs from Home Depot, Target, and Walmart all report a drop in imports could cause product shortages.

Twelve state attorney generals across the country have filed lawsuits against the president.

“The president has absolutely no legal authority to issue these tariffs. The tariffs are illegal,” said Kris Mayes, Arizona Attorney General.

In Iowa, a decades-old friendship exists between China and the corn state. In 1985 Xi Jinping, then a county official, visited Iowa as part of an agriculture delegation. The group spent time in Muscatine learning about farming and the latest in agricultural innovation.

Iowa and China would reunite again in 2012 when Governor Terry Branstand hosted a diner for Xi, who was at that time China’s Vice President. These trips helped create a sister-state agreement between Iowa and Hebei province in China.

Thursday afternoon the sister states celebrated at the World Food Prize, where they marked the 40th anniversary of President Jinping’s first visit. Speakers, music, and dance were all shared.

Along with talks of the tariff war, Ambassadors Branstand and Quinn both stressed the importance of maintaining a friendship between the countries.

“These farmers are going to be in a very difficult situation,” said Kenneth Quinn, former U.S. Ambassador. “My hope is that the increases in tariffs, at least in agriculture, can be put aside for this growing season because I think it’s not fair to the farmers who are out planting so many soybeans to then not be able to have a market to sell them in.”

Since the Trump Administration announced the tariff’s farmers have expressed concern about losing China’s export market, which is the biggest market for crops.