INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
By Andrew Mayeda and Jenny LeonardThe US and China moved to the brink of a trade war on Friday after the Trump administration announced
tariffs on Chinese imports would take effect in three weeks and pledged additional investment restrictions, prompting an immediate vow of
commitments are now off the table, according to government statements
United States goods slated for levies include farm products such as soybeans, a potential blow to rural states that backed President Donald
In April, he asked officials to consider an additional $100 billion in levies
Meanwhile, United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said an announcement on United States investment restrictions on China
such as robotics, aerospace, industrial machinery and automobiles
subject to an additional 25 percent tariff starting July 6
They included a variety of agricultural products, including soybeans, corn and wheat along with beef, pork and poultry, plus automobiles
deeply regrettable that in disregard of the consensus between the two sides, the United States has demonstrated flip-flops and ignited a
imported $506 billion of goods from China last year and exported about $130 billion, leaving a 2017 deficit of $376 billion, according to
China of stealing United States intellectual property in an effort to dominate the development of advanced technology.
Trump is shaking up
the world economic order with his zeal for tariffs and embrace of trade conflict
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Before Friday, the Trump administration had imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, along
with solar panels and washing machines
Economists expect the direct impact on the United States economy to be modest
Korean peninsula following his summit with leader Kim Jong Un this week in Singapore
appeared to be taking a more conciliatory approach with China before Friday
His top economic advisers had held weeks of high-level negotiations to ease tensions, with China offering to boost purchases of American
goods by $25 billion.
Also, the president earlier this month decided to soften a penalty on Chinese telecom-equipment maker ZTE Corp,
resisting opposition from Congress.
In April, the United States banned ZTE from buying American technology for seven years, effectively
putting the company out of business
But Trump said this month ZTE could avoid the ban if it paid at least $1 billion in penalties, among other things
