The following article by David J. Lynch, Danielle Paquette and Emily Rauhala was posted on the Washington Post website July 6, 2018:
A Chinese official warned July 5 the United States is “opening fire” on the world with its tariff threats. He added China would respond to any U.S. measures. (Reuters)
The United States has levied tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods, a long-threatened move that is expected to prompt Beijing to retaliate against American products and plunge the two countries into a costly and increasingly unpredictable trade war.
U.S. customs officers started imposing duties on $34 billion in Chinese goods at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Moments after the deadline, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce issued a statement calling the U.S. move “typical trade bullying.”
“In order to defend the core interests of the country and the interests of the people, we are forced to retaliate,” the statement said.