BEIJING—The United States hiked tariffs on Chinese imports Friday and Beijing announced it was retaliating against American goods in a technology dispute between the world’s two biggest economies that President Donald Trump says he is prepared to escalate.
Washington imposed 25 per cent tariffs on $34 billion (U.S.) worth of Chinese imports, a first step in what could become an accelerating series of tariffs.
Retaliatory measures “took effect immediately,” said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lu Kang. Hu gave no details, but the Communist Party newspaper People’s Daily said the customs agency was carrying out a plan announced last month to impose 25 per cent tariffs on a $34 billion list of American goods including soybeans, pork and electric cars.
Companies worry the spiralling dispute could chill global economic growth, but Asian financial markets took Friday’s developments in stride.
Japan’s main stock index, the Nikkei 225, gained 1.1 per cent while the Shanghai Composite Index added 0.5 per cent. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.8 per cent.
The Trump administration contends China has deployed predatory tactics in a push to overtake U.S. technological dominance. These tactics include cybertheft and requiring American companies to hand over technology in exchange for access to China’s market.
Chinese officials reject accusations of theft and say no foreign company is obligated to share technology. But rules on auto manufacturing and other industries require companies to work through state-owned partners, which forces them to share know-how with potential competitors.
The Commerce Ministry said Trump “ignited the biggest trade war in economic history.”
“The United States has blatantly violated WTO rules,” said Hu, the foreign ministry spokesperson. “Any unilateral pressure will be futile.”
Washington has strained relations with potential allies in its dispute with Beijing by raising import duties on steel, aluminum and autos from Europe, Canada, Mexico and Japan.
Trump’s confrontational outlook applies to other trading partners as well as China, said Tai Hui, chief strategist for JP Morgan Asset Management, in a report.
“This is a potential concern for the outlook of corporate investment and consumption around world,” said Hui.
The official China Daily newspaper accused the Trump administration of “behaving like a gang of hoodlums.” It said they would damage the global economy unless other countries stop them.
“There should be no doubting Beijing’s resolve,” the newspaper said.
The American Chamber of Commerce in China appealed to both sides to negotiate a settlement.
“There are no winners in a trade war,” said the chamber’s chairman, William Zarit, in a statement. It said American companies want fairer treatment but will be hurt by U.S.-Chinese tensions.
“We urge the two governments to come back to the negotiation table,” said Zarit.
