The President of the United States announced Thursday that he is considering to impose a new set of tariffs worth $100 billion on Chinese products after the Asian giant decided to apply extra duties on US products in response to the $50 billion of taxes Washington levied on Chinese imports.

US President Donald Trump ordered the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) to "identify the products to impose such tariffs," of about $100 billion, "in the light of China's unfair retaliation". </s> The United States is expected to announce $50 billion in U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods on Friday, a decision President Donald Trump sanctioned on Thursday afternoon, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

The decision is in line with the president’s March directive to the U.S. Trade Representatives office to conduct a section 301 investigation into Chinese trade practices.

President Trump met with senior trade, economic, and national security advisers at the White House Thursday afternoon, CNBC reported earlier in the day, citing three sources familiar with the potential tariff announcement. That report predicted an estimated 800-900 Chinese products. That is down from the approximately 1,300 the U.S. Trade Representative suggested in April.

A White House official did not deny the possibility of a Friday tariff announcement. The White House did not list the meeting between Trump and the officials on a daily schedule of meetings, and the official said that they do not produce lists of attendees for private meetings.

The WSJ reported that the meeting involved unnamed senior officials from the White House, U.S. Trade Representative’s office, Treasury and Commerce departments, and national security officials.

USTR is expected to release the list of affected goods on Friday.

President Trump warned in March that the U.S. may choose to impose $50 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods, citing China’s unfair trading practices, intellectual property practices and forced transfer of technology. He charged USTR with conducting a section 301 investigation into the matter.

A USTR report cited in the initiation of the 301 investigation stated, “As the global economy has increased its dependence on information systems in recent years, cyber theft became one of China’s preferred methods of collecting commercial information because of its logistical advantages and plausible deniability.”

China threatened $50 billion in tariffs on the U.S. in retaliation to the proposed $50 billion in U.S. tariffs on China. President Trump shot back with a warning of up to an additional $100 billion in U.S. tariffs on China. Chinese President Xi Jinping seemed to relent to some extent in response, showing a willingness to lower Chinese tariffs on U.S. auto imports to their country.

The White House has said that Xi’s response is encouraging but that the U.S. would not relent in proposed tariffs until the Trump administration sees “concrete actions from China.” </s> A Chinese worker checks aluminium tapes at an aluminium production plant in Huaibei, east China's Anhui province in May 2017.

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration announced Tuesday it is moving forward with a 25 percent tariff on $16 billion in Chinese goods, further escalating a trade war with Beijing.

The new tariffs will take effect on Aug. 23 and will impact 279 product lines, down from the original 284 that were proposed on June 15, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said. Products to be impacted include electronics, plastics and railway freight cars.

The tariffs are the second round of duties that the U.S. has imposed on Chinese goods in a dispute over technology. An initial round of tariffs was placed on $34 billion of Chinese products on July 6.

More: South Carolina company blames tariffs on possible layoffs

More tariffs could be coming soon

President Donald Trump earlier proposed 10 percent tariffs on an additional $200 billion of Chinese imports. Last week, he instructed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to consider more than doubling those duties to 25 percent. Those tariffs could be levied in September, following a public comment period.

The latest round of tariffs comes during a breakdown of trade talks between the Trump administration and Beijing and amid a growing trade dispute that has rattled global markets.

In July, Beijing announced that it would slap an extra 25 percent duty on 545 products from the United States including soybeans, electric cars, orange juice, whiskey, salmon and cigars, in retaliation for Trump’s initial round of tariffs.

Last week, China’s Ministry of Finance it would place tariffs on an additional $60 billion of U.S. goods, including coffee, honey and industrial chemicals, if Trump goes through with the threat to place duties on an additional $200 billion in Chinese products.

The ministry accused the Trump administration of damaging the global economy.

More: Trump says 'vicious' China targeting U.S. farmers on trade, urges critics to 'be cool' </s> WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is likely to publish this week a list of $200 billion in additional Chinese products to be hit with tariffs, possibly as early as later on Tuesday, an administration official said.

The official said the decision was not final and that the list of Chinese goods would not become final until after the public had a chance to comment.

The move would be the latest in the escalating trade skirmish between the world’s two biggest economies.

Bloomberg first reported on Tuesday that the Trump administration was planning to release the list, citing two people familiar with the matter. Another source who is familiar with the situation confirmed the Bloomberg report to Reuters.

Trump last week said the United States may ultimately impose tariffs on more than $500 billion worth of Chinese goods - roughly the total amount of U.S. imports from China last year.

The United States began imposing tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese goods at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT) on Friday. </s> WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced a 25 percent tariff on up to $50 billion worth of Chinese imports on Friday, instantly escalating a trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies.

China’s government responded quickly, announcing Friday it will immediately impose penalties of “equal strength” on U.S. products.

The Commerce Ministry said it also was scrapping deals to buy more American farm goods and other exports as part of efforts to defuse a sprawling dispute over its trade surplus and technology policy.

Trump has vowed to fulfill his campaign pledge to crack down on what he contends are China’s unfair trade practices and efforts to undermine U.S. technology and intellectual property. During an impromptu appearance on the White House North Law, the president hailed his “very big tariffs” on China.

“You know we have the great brain power in Silicon Valley, and China and others steal those secrets. And we’re going to protect those secrets. Those are crown jewels for this country,” Trump said.

“‘There is no trade war. They’ve taken so much,” Trump said in an interview with “Fox & Friends.”

The tariffs will cover 1,102 Chinese product lines worth about $50 billion a year. Those include 818 products, worth $34 billion a year, remaining from a list of 1,333 the administration released in April. The government will start to collect the tariffs July 6.

The administration also is targeting another 284 Chinese products, which the administration says benefit from China’s aggressive industrial policies, worth $16 billion a year but won’t impose those tariffs until it collects public comment.

“It’s thorough. It’s moderate. It’s appropriate,” U.S. Trade Rep. Robert Lighthizer said Friday on the Fox Business Network. He added: “Our hope is that it doesn’t lead to a rash reaction from China.”

Trump has already slapped tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada, Mexico and European allies, and his proposed tariffs against China risk starting a trade war involving the world’s two biggest economies.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Friday that China’s response would be immediate and that Beijing would “take necessary measures to defend our legitimate rights and interests.”

Geng gave no details. Beijing earlier drew up a list of $50 billion in U.S. products that would face retaliatory tariffs, including beef and soybeans, a shot at Trump’s supporters in rural America.

Trump’s decision on the Chinese tariffs comes in the aftermath of his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The president has coordinated closely with China on efforts to get Pyongyang to eliminate its nuclear arsenal. But he signaled that whatever the implications, “I have to do what I have to do” to address the trade imbalance.

Wall Street has viewed the escalating trade tensions with wariness, fearful that they could strangle the economic growth achieved during Trump’s watch and undermine the benefits of the tax cuts he signed into law last year.

The administration is also working on proposed Chinese investment restrictions by June 30.

“Imposing tariffs places the cost of China’s unfair trade practices squarely on the shoulders of American consumers, manufacturers, farmers, and ranchers,” said Thomas Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “This is not the right approach.” </s> A Chinese worker checks aluminium tapes at an aluminium production plant in Huaibei, east China's Anhui province in May 2017.

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration announced Tuesday it is moving forward with a 25 percent tariff on $16 billion in Chinese goods, further escalating a trade war with Beijing.

The new tariffs will take effect on Aug. 23 and will impact 279 product lines, down from the original 284 that were proposed on June 15, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said. Products to be impacted include electronics, plastics and railway freight cars.

The tariffs are the second round of duties that the U.S. has imposed on Chinese goods in a dispute over technology. An initial round of tariffs was placed on $34 billion of Chinese products on July 6.

More tariffs could be coming soon

President Donald Trump earlier proposed 10 percent tariffs on an additional $200 billion of Chinese imports. Last week, he instructed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to consider more than doubling those duties to 25 percent. Those tariffs could be levied in September, following a public comment period.

The latest round of tariffs comes during a breakdown of trade talks between the Trump administration and Beijing and amid a growing trade dispute that has rattled global markets.

In July, Beijing announced that it would slap an extra 25 percent duty on 545 products from the United States including soybeans, electric cars, orange juice, whiskey, salmon and cigars, in retaliation for Trump’s initial round of tariffs.

Last week, China’s Ministry of Finance it would place tariffs on an additional $60 billion of U.S. goods, including coffee, honey and industrial chemicals, if Trump goes through with the threat to place duties on an additional $200 billion in Chinese products.

The ministry accused the Trump administration of damaging the global economy.

More: Trump says 'vicious' China targeting U.S. farmers on trade, urges critics to 'be cool' </s> U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to publish a list of an additional US$200 billion in Chinese products to be hit with tariffs, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing two people familiar with the matter, in the latest step in the trade skirmish between the world's two biggest economies.

REUTERS: U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to publish a list of an additional US$200 billion in Chinese products to be hit with tariffs, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing two people familiar with the matter, in the latest step in the trade skirmish between the world's two biggest economies.

The tariff list could be released as soon as Tuesday, and likely this week, the report said.

Trump last week said the United States may ultimately impose tariffs on more than US$500 billion worth of Chinese goods - roughly the total amount of U.S. imports from China last year.

The United States began imposing tariffs on US$34 billion in Chinese goods at 12:01 a.m. (0401 GMT) on Friday. </s> The Trump administration has readied a proposed list of $200 billion worth of imports from China that will be hit with 10 percent tariffs, escalating an already-tense trade war between the world‘s two largest economies.



Senior administration officials said that the U.S. Trade Representative’s office will release the list of goods subject to tariffs later Tuesday night. The move also comes after the U.S. last week imposed a 25 percent tariff on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods, prompting tit-for-tat retaliatory measures. China immediately began adding tariffs on 545 American imports — many of them agricultural products such as soybeans, cotton, rice, sorghum, beef, pork, dairy, nuts and produce.

Last month, President Donald Trump ordered trade officials to draw up a list of $200 billion worth of Chinese goods that would be hit with a 10 percent tariff after Beijing vowed the retaliatory moves. </s> The Trump administration is imposing tariffs on 200 billion dollars (£150 billion) more in Chinese goods, starting next week. The move escalates a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies and raises prices on consumer goods ranging from handbags to bicycle tyres. The tariffs will start at 10% and rise to 25% starting on January 1. President Donald Trump made the announcement ON Monday evening in a move that is sure to ratchet up hostilities between Washington and Beijing. Mr Trump has already imposed 25%tariffs on 50 billion dollars (£38 billion) in Chinese goods.

China has retaliated in kind, hitting American soybeans, among other goods, in a shot at the president’s supporters in the US farm belt. Beijing has warned that it would hit an additional 60 billion dollars (£45 billion) in American products if Mr Trump ordered more tariffs. Mr Trump on Monday threatened to raise the stakes again if Beijing should retaliate, adding a further 267 billion dollars in Chinese imports to the target list. That would raise the total to 517 billion dollars (£393 billion) — covering nearly everything China sells the United States. After taking in public comments, the administration said on Monday that it had withdrawn several items from an earlier list of 200 billion dollars in Chinese imports, including child-safety products such as bicycle helmets.

In a victory for Apple Inc and its American customers, the administration removed smart watches and some other consumer electronics products from the list of goods imported from China. At the same time, the administration said it is still open to negotiations with China. “China has had many opportunities to fully address our concerns,” Mr Trump said in a statement. “Once again, I urge China’s leaders to take swift action to end their country’s unfair trade practices.” The two countries are fighting over Beijing’s ambitions to supplant American technological supremacy. The Office of the US Trade Representative charged in a March report that China is using predatory tactics to obtain foreign technology, including hacking US companies to steal their trade secrets and forcing them to turn over their know-how in exchange for access to the Chinese market. Mr Trump has also complained about America’s massive trade deficit — 336 billion dollars last year — with China, its biggest trading partner. In May, in fact, it looked briefly as if Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese vice premier Liu He had brokered a truce built around Chinese promises to buy enough American farm products and liquefied natural gas to put a dent in the trade deficit. But Mr Trump quickly backed away from the truce.

In the first two rounds of tariffs, the Trump administration was careful to try to spare consumers from the direct impact of the import taxes. The levies focused on industrial products, not on things Americans buy at shopping centres or via Amazon. By expanding the list to 200 billion dollars-worth of Chinese imports, Mr Trump risks spreading the pain to ordinary Americans. The administration is targeting a bewildering variety of products — from sockeye salmon to bamboo mats — forcing US companies to scramble for suppliers outside China, absorb the import taxes or pass along the burden to their customers. In a filing with the government, for instance, Giant Bicycles Inc of Newbury Park, California, noting that 94% of imported bicycles came from China last year, complained that “there is no way our business can shift its supply chain to a new market” to avoid the tariffs and warned “a tariff increase of this magnitude will inevitably be paid for by the American consumer”. Mr Trump has reversed decades of US policy in favour of ever-freer trade. He campaigned on a promise to tax imports and rewrite or tear up trade agreements that he said put US companies and workers at a disadvantage. “The president’s negotiating tactics do not work well with China’s way of thinking,” said Sung Won Sohn, chief economist at SS Economics in Los Angeles. “I think things will get worse. I fully expect the tariff rate will go up to 25%.”
Trump instructs officials to consider a further $100 billion of tariffs against China in addition to the $50 billion worth of US tariffs already proposed on hundreds of Chinese imports.