China-US Trade Conflict: Trump drives up numbers in escalating tariff battle

World
Europe

02:02

China is facing additional US import tariffs of up to 450 billion US dollars, as a trade battle escalates between the world's two largest economies. In 2017, President Trump ordered his administration to ramp up duties against China, until it changes what he thinks are unfair trade practices. But China says that while it doesn't want a trade war, it's ready for one. CGTN's Owen Fairclough has more.

Donald Trump's tariffs against China are rising faster than the scorching temperatures across much of the US right now. First, a 25 percent tariff on 50 billion dollars of Chinese imports, matched by China and taking effect next month.

Now Trump's threatening duties of 10% on an additional 200 billion dollars' worth of Chinese goods. If China retaliates, Trump promised tariffs on another 200 billion in goods. He blames China for what he deems unfair trade practices. He also blames China for a widening deficit and alleged intellectual property theft.

China denies this, accusing the U.S. of waging a "trade war." Having launched a similar trade battle with Canada, Mexico and the European Union, Trump says he's out to protect U.S. jobs.

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "We're going to take care of our American farmers and our manufacturing jobs."

And yet soybean farmers in the U.S. Midwest are worried about the impact of China's retaliatory tariffs on their exports. Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg thinks the longer term effect will be harmful.

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG FORMER NEW YORK MAYOR "History shows more jobs are created when you trade and even if you don't believe that if you don't keep trading you're not going to have an economy."

On the one dispute Trump has tried to be conciliatory, his own Republican lawmakers have blocked him. Trump pledged to ease up on Chinese telecoms firm ZTE after U.S. suppliers were banned from trading with it. Congress voted to keep that ban in place. Owen Fairclough, CGTN.