US tariff on Chinese goods in effect

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump’s tariff increase to 25% on $US200 billion ($NZ303 billion) worth of Chinese goods took effect yesterday, ratcheting up tensions between the United States and China as they pursue lastditch talks to try to salvage a trade deal.

With no action from the Trump Administration to reverse the increase, US Customs and Border Protection imposed the new 25% duty on affected USbound cargoes leaving China after midnight yesterday .

More than 5700 affected product categories that left Chinese ports and airports before midnight will be subject to the original 10% duty rate, a CBP spokeswoman said.

Trump gave US importers less than five days’ notice about his decision to increase the rate on the $US200 billion category of goods to 25%, which now matches the rate on a prior $US50 billion category of Chinese machinery and technology goods. — Reuters