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| Trade war: US hits China with new wave of tariffs | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The US has imposed fresh tariffs on $112bn (£92bn) of Chinese imported goods. | |
| It marks a sharp escalation of the bruising trade war between the world's two largest economies. | It marks a sharp escalation of the bruising trade war between the world's two largest economies. |
| The move is the first phase of US President Donald Trump's latest plan to place 15% duties on $300bn of Chinese imports by the end of the year. | The move is the first phase of US President Donald Trump's latest plan to place 15% duties on $300bn of Chinese imports by the end of the year. |
| Beijing says it has "ample" means to retaliate, while also calling for both sides to continue trade negotiations. | Beijing says it has "ample" means to retaliate, while also calling for both sides to continue trade negotiations. |
| If fully imposed, Mr Trump's programme would mean that nearly all Chinese imports - worth about $550bn - would be subject to punitive tariffs. | If fully imposed, Mr Trump's programme would mean that nearly all Chinese imports - worth about $550bn - would be subject to punitive tariffs. |
| What was initially a dispute over China's allegedly unfair trade practices is increasingly seen as a geopolitical power struggle. | What was initially a dispute over China's allegedly unfair trade practices is increasingly seen as a geopolitical power struggle. |
| So far, Washington has imposed tariffs on some $250bn of Chinese goods, while Beijing has retaliated with tariffs on $110bn of US products. | So far, Washington has imposed tariffs on some $250bn of Chinese goods, while Beijing has retaliated with tariffs on $110bn of US products. |
| Businesses are finding it increasingly hard to navigate the uncertainty of the long-running trade dispute. | Businesses are finding it increasingly hard to navigate the uncertainty of the long-running trade dispute. |
| Analysts say that in view of the latest escalation, the prospect of a resolution looks grim. | Analysts say that in view of the latest escalation, the prospect of a resolution looks grim. |
| "It's difficult at this stage to see how there can be a deal or at least a good deal," Julian Evans-Pritchard, a senior China economist at Capital Economics, told the BBC. | "It's difficult at this stage to see how there can be a deal or at least a good deal," Julian Evans-Pritchard, a senior China economist at Capital Economics, told the BBC. |
| "Since talks broke down back in May, the position of both sides has hardened and there have been other complications, namely the Huawei ban and Hong Kong protests, which have made it even more difficult to bridge the gap." | "Since talks broke down back in May, the position of both sides has hardened and there have been other complications, namely the Huawei ban and Hong Kong protests, which have made it even more difficult to bridge the gap." |
| The US government put Huawei on a trade blacklist in May, while President Trump has tied protests in Hong Kong to a possible trade deal with China. | The US government put Huawei on a trade blacklist in May, while President Trump has tied protests in Hong Kong to a possible trade deal with China. |
| What is expected on 1 September? | What is expected on 1 September? |
| The US is due to impose a 15% tariff on $300bn worth of Chinese goods by the end of the year in two rounds. | The US is due to impose a 15% tariff on $300bn worth of Chinese goods by the end of the year in two rounds. |
| The first round of duties is due to be introduced on 1 September and analysts expect those tariffs will target imports worth about $150bn. | The first round of duties is due to be introduced on 1 September and analysts expect those tariffs will target imports worth about $150bn. |
| The Office of the United States Trade Representative would not clarify the value of goods due to be hit with tariffs this month. | The Office of the United States Trade Representative would not clarify the value of goods due to be hit with tariffs this month. |
| Products to be targeted in September range from meat and cheese to pens and musical instruments. | Products to be targeted in September range from meat and cheese to pens and musical instruments. |
| The 15% rate supersedes the 10% originally planned and was announced last week as tensions between the two sides escalated. | The 15% rate supersedes the 10% originally planned and was announced last week as tensions between the two sides escalated. |
| China initially said it would retaliate with measures targeting $75bn of US goods, but later appeared to soften those comments. | China initially said it would retaliate with measures targeting $75bn of US goods, but later appeared to soften those comments. |
| On Thursday, Commerce Ministry spokesperson Gao Feng said China had "ample" means to retaliate against planned US tariffs while emphasising the need to de-escalate tensions. | On Thursday, Commerce Ministry spokesperson Gao Feng said China had "ample" means to retaliate against planned US tariffs while emphasising the need to de-escalate tensions. |
| "The most important thing at the moment is to create necessary conditions for both sides to continue negotiations," he said in a briefing, according to Reuters news agency. | "The most important thing at the moment is to create necessary conditions for both sides to continue negotiations," he said in a briefing, according to Reuters news agency. |
| How do they differ from previous tariffs? | How do they differ from previous tariffs? |
| Katie Prescott, BBC Business Reporter | Katie Prescott, BBC Business Reporter |
| It's the American consumer who will bear the brunt of these fresh tariffs, unlike previous rounds which have hit the manufacturing sector hardest. | It's the American consumer who will bear the brunt of these fresh tariffs, unlike previous rounds which have hit the manufacturing sector hardest. |
| Nappies, dishwashers, shoes, clothes, food - looking through the 122-page list of eligible products, it's hard to find something that's not on there. | Nappies, dishwashers, shoes, clothes, food - looking through the 122-page list of eligible products, it's hard to find something that's not on there. |
| Many retailers say they have little choice but to pass on the cost to shoppers. | Many retailers say they have little choice but to pass on the cost to shoppers. |
| The president of the American Apparel and Footwear Association, Rick Helfenbein, describes the tariffs as like "punishing your daughter for something your son did. It makes no sense". | The president of the American Apparel and Footwear Association, Rick Helfenbein, describes the tariffs as like "punishing your daughter for something your son did. It makes no sense". |
| The next round of tariffs on more clothes and big ticket items like laptops and iPhones are due in December. Donald Trump says this will help to protect spending during the Christmas season. | The next round of tariffs on more clothes and big ticket items like laptops and iPhones are due in December. Donald Trump says this will help to protect spending during the Christmas season. |
| By the end of the year, they'll be in place on almost all of the $550bn of goods that the US buys every year from China. | By the end of the year, they'll be in place on almost all of the $550bn of goods that the US buys every year from China. |
| And that could add up to $800 to the average household's annual spend, according to Katheryn Russ from the University of California. | And that could add up to $800 to the average household's annual spend, according to Katheryn Russ from the University of California. |
| How has industry reacted? | How has industry reacted? |
| Mr Trump has repeatedly argued that China pays for tariffs, but many US companies have rebutted that claim. | Mr Trump has repeatedly argued that China pays for tariffs, but many US companies have rebutted that claim. |
| More than 200 footwear firms - including Nike and Converse - said the new duties would add to existing tariffs of up to 67% on some shoes, driving up costs for consumers by $4bn each year. | More than 200 footwear firms - including Nike and Converse - said the new duties would add to existing tariffs of up to 67% on some shoes, driving up costs for consumers by $4bn each year. |
| They said the incoming tariffs on footwear would "also mean these massive tax increases hit tens of millions of Americans when they purchase shoes during the holiday season". | They said the incoming tariffs on footwear would "also mean these massive tax increases hit tens of millions of Americans when they purchase shoes during the holiday season". |
| The American Chamber of Commerce in China also voiced concerns after the US said it was going ahead with new tariffs. | The American Chamber of Commerce in China also voiced concerns after the US said it was going ahead with new tariffs. |
| "Our members have long been clear that tariffs are paid by consumers and harm business," it said in a statement. | "Our members have long been clear that tariffs are paid by consumers and harm business," it said in a statement. |
| "We urge... that both sides work towards a sustainable agreement as soon as possible that resolves the fundamental, structural issues foreign businesses have long faced in China." | "We urge... that both sides work towards a sustainable agreement as soon as possible that resolves the fundamental, structural issues foreign businesses have long faced in China." |
| What's next? | What's next? |
| From 15 December, the second phase of 15% tariffs will be rolled out on the remainder of Chinese good not previously affected. | From 15 December, the second phase of 15% tariffs will be rolled out on the remainder of Chinese good not previously affected. |
| This includes technology like phones and computers which President Trump has sought to protect until now. | This includes technology like phones and computers which President Trump has sought to protect until now. |
| In addition, the Trump administration plans to raise the rates on existing duties from 25% to 30% on 1 October. | In addition, the Trump administration plans to raise the rates on existing duties from 25% to 30% on 1 October. |
| Mr Evans-Pritchard from Capital Economics said this rate could increase further still. | Mr Evans-Pritchard from Capital Economics said this rate could increase further still. |
| "The tariff rate could go all the way up to 45%," he said. "Those are the goods that do the most damage to China and the least collateral damage to the US." | "The tariff rate could go all the way up to 45%," he said. "Those are the goods that do the most damage to China and the least collateral damage to the US." |
| For the US and Chinese economies, analysts say the pressure created by tariffs is also building. | For the US and Chinese economies, analysts say the pressure created by tariffs is also building. |
| "The full-blown trade war, together with China's retaliation in kind, could reduce potential US GDP growth in the short run by almost 1%," says Gary Hufbauer of the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics. | "The full-blown trade war, together with China's retaliation in kind, could reduce potential US GDP growth in the short run by almost 1%," says Gary Hufbauer of the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics. |
| "The impact on China would be larger, as much as 5%." | "The impact on China would be larger, as much as 5%." |
| From 15 December, the second phase of 15% tariffs will be rolled out on the remainder of Chinese good not previously affected. | From 15 December, the second phase of 15% tariffs will be rolled out on the remainder of Chinese good not previously affected. |