China threatens with new sanctions if US doesn't back down

REUTERS/Damir Šagolj

China has announced plans to put tariffs of up to 25 percent on US products worth USD 60 billion (around EUR 51.79 billion), the latest salvo in an escalating trade war.

The Chinese government said Friday that it would impose duties of 25 percent, 20 percent, 10 percent and 5 percent on the products if the Trump administration follows through on threats to tax USD 200 billion (around EUR 172.6 billion) of Chinese goods.

“In violation of the bilateral consensus reached after multiple rounds of negotiations, the United States has again unilaterally escalated trade frictions,” the Chinese State Council Tariff Commission said in its statement on Friday.

China listed 5,207 US products that it would target in an effort to “safeguard its own legitimate interests.”

Products in line for tariffs include meat, coffee, nuts, alcoholic drinks, minerals, chemicals, leather products, wood products, machinery, furniture and auto parts.