U.S., China Trade War Intensifies With New Tariffs

The U.S. and China imposed tariff increases on $16 billion worth of goods Thursday, just hours after the two sides reportedly failed to make progress in ending the dispute during negotiations in Washington. The Trump administration’s 25 percent penalty duties on Chinese goods kicked in just after midnight Washington time, prompting an angry statement from China’s Commerce Ministry condemning the Trump administration for “remaining obstinate” in the ongoing trade war. The U.S. tariffs will affect 279 categories of Chinese import products, including Chinese-made pumps, cutting tools, and other industrial machinery, as well as vehicles and electronic components. China’s own retaliatory tariffs on $16 billion worth of U.S. goods also took effect just after midday in Beijing, with fuel, steel products, autos, and medical equipment to face levies.