CHINA/TARIFFS/TRADE WAR/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “US president Donald Trump has threatened to intensify his trade war with China, warning he could impose tariffs on almost all its imports. He said he could move ‘very soon’ to impose tariffs on $200bn (£155bn) worth of products with taxes on another $267bn ‘ready to go on short notice.’ If both sets of tariffs go ahead it would mean virtually all of China’s US exports would be subject to new duties. The move risks raising tensions between the world’s two largest economies…If the administration does go ahead with another round of tariffs on Chinese products, it would mark the third set put into motion so far this year. In July, the White House increased charges on $34bn worth of Chinese products. Then last month, the escalating trade war moved up a gear when the US brought in a 25% tax on a second wave of goods worth $16bn. China has retaliated on both occasions with tariffs on the equivalent value of US goods. The Chinese imports targeted so far include a vast range of goods, including semiconductors, plastics, chemicals and railway equipment, and fridges. The US products targeted by China include coal, copper scrap, fuel, buses and medical equipment. If a third set of tariffs on $200bn worth of Chinese goods are imposed then a host of tech firms have warned they will be impacted.”
–BBC Staff, “Trump warns further China tariffs ‘ready to go’,” BBC.com, September 7, 2018