China-US Trade Tensions: Fourth day of public hearings on additional tariffs on Chinese goods

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And more US tariffs could be on the way against China. Public hearings for proposed tariffs on additional Chinese products continue in Washington DC. Chinese and American business leaders gave testimony on the increased duties threatened by President Trump. CGTN's Owen Fairclough reports.

Business leaders arriving for day four of public hearings on U.S. duties on another 200 billion dollars of Chinese goods that could be imposed in late September.

They've already hit each other with duties on 34 billion dollars of each other's goods. Good for some American businesses that complain of being undercut by China - bad for others that depend on China for suppliers. One of the world's biggest children equipment makers says safety is at stake.

RUSS TORRES GRACO CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS "We're very concerned that the implementation of tariffs will hurt consumers, particularly low-income consumers, and force them to choose between very tight budget and fully protecting the safety of their children."

And yet as these hearings resumed, Washington had already escalated the dispute, taxing another 16 billion dollars of Chinese imports. Beijing retaliated with the same amount.

President Donald Trump is trying to pressure China into changing what he calls its unfair trade practices that harm the U.S. China denies this and insists it's open to free and fair trade.

This lawyer representing multiple Chinese industries at the hearings thinks both sides will lose.

ZHU HAICHENG ZHEJIANG CHESSION LAW FIRM "Business should not really be dragged into trade disputes or so-called trade war like that."

After two days of talks with a Chinese delegation at the Treasury Department, the White House says each side exchanged views on how to improve their relationship - the first formal talks for months. Owen Fairclough, CGTN Washington.