미국 USTR, "트럼프 대통령, 2천억달러 대중 추가 관세 부과 지시"
Another round of tariffs targeting Beijing is locked and loaded by Washington.
A follow-through on President Donald Trump's threats to get even tougher on trade with China, after it responded by slapping duties on American products.
Kim Mok-yeon starts us off with the battles in a war neither side may win.
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Tuesday released a list of additional Chinese goods worth some 200 billion U.S. dollars... that could be hit with tariffs of ten percent.
Lighthizer says President Trump ordered his office to begin the process in response to China's imposition of tit-for-tat tariffs of 25 percent on 34 billion dollar's worth of U.S. exports last week.
China's most-recent tariffs came a matter of hours after Trump announced that the U.S. was imposing its first round of 25 percent tariffs on 34 billion dollars worth of imports on Chinese goods.
The U.S. Trade Representative criticized Beijing, saying its latest tariffs are (quote) "retaliation" against Washington and that they lack international legal basis or justification.
The list of goods to face ten percent punitive duties includes frozen meats, fresh fish and seafood, butter, onions, and a long list of chemicals.
The latest announcement by the U.S. is expected to deal a big blow to Beijing, as these new tariffs would amount to nearly half of America's annual imports from Asia's largest economy.
The USTR will begin a public notice and comment process prior to the imposition of the final tariffs, which could come into effect as early as September.
In response to the news, China's Commerce Ministry announced on the same day that it cannot accept the additional tariffs proposed by the U.S., adding that it was shocked by the decision.
The ministry also reiterated that China would be forced to hit back against the list put out by the U.S.
Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.
