China vows to retaliate after US raises stakes in trade spat with tariffs on $200bn of goods
Washington/Beijing — The Trump administration raised the stakes in its trade dispute with China on Tuesday, saying it would slap 10% tariffs on an extra $200bn worth of Chinese imports, including numerous consumer items, sending stocks in Asia skidding. China’s commerce ministry said it was "shocked" by the latest US trade action and would complain to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), but did not immediately say how it would retaliate. It called the actions "completely unacceptable" in a statement released around midday on Wednesday. Beijing has said it will hit back against Washington’s escalating tariff measures, including through "qualitative measures", a threat that US businesses in China fear could mean anything from stepped-up inspections to delays in investment approvals and even consumer boycotts. US officials issued a list of thousands of Chinese imports the Trump administration wants to hit with the new tariffs, including hundreds of food products as well as tobacco, che...
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