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Politics

China to hike tariffs on $60 billion of US goods

May 13, 2019

China said the move was a "response to US unilateralism." Recent talks to end the trade spat between the world's two largest economies ended without a breakthrough last week.

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Signs with the US flag and Chinese flag are seen at the Qingdao free trade port area in Qingdao in China's eastern Shandong province on May 8, 2019.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/STR

China said on Monday that it would increase tariffs of up to 25% on $60 billion (€53 billion) worth of US goods, starting on June 1.

The "adaptation" was a "response to US unilateralism and trade protectionism," the State Council's Customs Tariffs Commission said.

Read more: Trump's China tariffs are about more than just trade

US President Donald Trump last week increased tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods to 25% and ordered US trade officials to start looking into imposing tariffs on another $300 billion worth of Chinese goods.

Talks between the United States and China on a deal to end their trade dispute ended on Friday without a breakthrough.

China had collected duties of 5% to 25% on nearly 2,500 goods before the latest hike. The Tariffs Commission did not specify which goods would be targeted by the higher rates.

Read more: Sieren's China: Trump feels threatened by China's rise

An hour before the Tariff Council's announcement, Trump wrote on Twitter that "China should not retaliate" against the latest US moves. "Will only get worse!" he added.

In Beijing, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the country would "never surrender to external pressure."

Investors fear further escalation in the dispute between the world's two largest economies could undermine global growth.

amp/msh (Reuters, dpa, AFP)

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