China vows retaliation for latest U.S. tariff threat

China slammed the U.S. threat to expand tariff hikes to imports including apples, fish sticks and French doors as a "totally unacceptable" escalation of their trade battle and vowed Wednesday to protect its "core interests."

The government gave no details but the Commerce Ministry earlier threatened "comprehensive measures." That prompted fears Beijing might go beyond matching U.S. import tax increases by harassing American companies in China.

The spiralling conflict over Chinese technology policy threatens to chill global economic growth. It stems from Washington's belief that Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology and worries that plans for state-led development of Chinese champions in robots and other fields might erode American industrial leadership.

The U.S. Trade Representative announced Tuesday a possible second round of tariff hikes targeting a $200 billion US list of Chinese goods ranging from burglar alarms to mackerel. That came four days after Washington added 25 per cent duties on $34 billion of Chinese goods and Beijing responded by increasing its own taxes on the same amount of American imports.

U.S. has threatened tariffs on almost all Chinese exports

"It is totally unacceptable for American side to publish a tariff list in a way that is accelerating and escalating," said a Commerce Ministry statement. "To protect the core interests of the nation and its people, the Chinese government will be forced to impose necessary countermeasures."

The USTR said the latest action was in response to Beijing's failure to change its policies and its retaliatory duties. President Donald Trump has threatened higher tariffs on more than $500 billion of goods, or nearly all of China's annual exports to the United States.

The USTR will accept public comments and hold hearings Aug. 20-23 before reaching a decision after Aug. 31, according to a senior U.S. official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

The first U.S. tariff list focused on Chinese industrial products to help cushion the impact on American consumers. The latest list hits items that U.S. households buy, including electric lamps, apple juice and fish sticks.

China could run out of imports for retaliation

Beijing's lopsided trade balance with the United States means it will quickly run out of imports for retaliation. China imported U.S. goods worth $130 billion last year and Friday's tariff hike hit $34 billion of that, with another $16 billion cited for a possible increase.

China "cannot match fresh U.S. tariffs," Vishnu Varathan of Mizuho Bank said in a report.

Instead, its heavily regulated economy gives Beijing tools to disrupt operations for American automakers, restaurant chains and other companies that are looking to China to drive revenue growth. Regulators can deny or cancel licences or tie up companies by launching tax, environmental or anti-monopoly investigations.

Companies are watching U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm Inc., which has waited for months for Chinese regulators to decide whether to allow its proposed $44 billion acquisition of NXP Semiconductors. All other major governments have approved the deal.

Members of Congress are increasingly questioning Trump's aggressive trade policies, warning that tariffs on imports raise prices for consumers and expose U.S. farmers and manufacturers to retaliation abroad.

"Tonight's announcement appears reckless and is not a targeted approach," said Senate Finance Chair Orrin Hatch in a statement.

Stock markets down

Investors had been taking the trade war in stride but Tuesday's announcement appeared to dent that optimism.

On Wednesday, Japan's stock market benchmark fell 1.2 per cent while Hong Kong's main index lost 1.7 per cent and the Shanghai Composite index dropped 2.1 per cent.

The conflict is "far from over," Hannah Anderson of JP Morgan Asset Management warned in a report, "and the impact will be global."