China imposes new tariffs on $16B worth of U.S. imports

Move comes hours after Trump administration confirmed taxes of its own

China said Wednesday it will impose tariffs on an additional $16 billion in U.S. autos and energy products in a sign that Beijing and Washington are digging in for what could be a long and bruising trade conflict.

The move came just hours after the Trump administration confirmed plans to proceed with a previously announced round of import taxes on Chinese products worth an equivalent amount.

The latest tariff salvos stem from U.S. President Donald Trump’s complaint that China is unfairly acquiring American technology via coercive joint ventures with U.S. companies, cybertheft and other violations of intellectual property rights.

After months of skirmishing, U.S. customs officers began collecting the first tariffs from importers of Chinese products on July 6.

China immediately retaliated with similar tariffs on U.S. goods, including soybeans, pork and poultry, which were designed to hurt Trump voters in rural America.

When the additional tariffs go into effect on Aug. 23, both sides will have taxes on about $50 billion worth of imports from the other. Trump is also moving forward with plans to tax a further $200 billion in Chinese products as soon as September.

The administration’s hard-line stance is stirring doubts among congressional Republicans and business leaders. Some analysts say the tariffs may be designed to reverse growing economic ties between the two countries, rather than spur diplomatic bargaining.