The US will start collecting tariffs on $16bn of Chinese imports on August 23, in the latest move in the escalating trade war between Washington and Beijing.
US trade officials released a final list of 279 products that make up the second tranche of the Trump administration’s new 25 per cent tariffs on Tuesday. It follows on from the first batch of tariffs on $34bn of imports that went into effect on July 6. Together, the first two tranches of tariffs on $50bn of Chinese imports mostly focus on China’s industrial sectors rather than consumer-focused products.
The latest tranche comes as President Donald Trump, who has suggested he could impose tariffs on all $500bn of the goods the US imports from China, continues hawkish rhetoric on trade despite promises by China to hit back in equal measure.