BBC:

Trump's 'explosive' global tariffs take effect - including a 104% rate on China

Summary

• Donald Trump's "explosive" tariffs are now in effect, including 104% on China, the world's biggest exporter

• Also on the list are 60 of the "worst offending" countries - who will face tariffs ranging from 11% - 50%

• The additional tariffs on China kicked in after Beijing refused to meet Trump's deadline to withdraw its own retaliatory levies on the US

• Trump has said that the tariffs are vital for his economic vision, but experts warn a full scale trade war is a possibility

• US financial markets rallied early on Tuesday but then tumbled once again when the White House confirmed the additional tariffs on China




China is not backing down. What next?published at 15:26

15:26

Image source,Getty Images

Most Chinese imports now face a staggering 104% tariff, as the trade war between the world's two biggest economies shows no signs of slowing down.

"We've now reached an impasse that will likely lead to long-term economic pain," Alfredo Montufar-Helu, a senior advisor to the China Center at The Conference Board think tank, told the BBC earlier before the latest tariff took effect.

It's not clear how the US is going to find alternative supply for Chinese goods on such short notice.

"I think the US is overplaying its hand," says Deborah Elms, Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation in Singapore.

She is sceptical of Trump's belief that the US market is so lucrative that China, or any country, will eventually bend.

"How will this end? No-one knows," she says. "I'm really concerned about the speed and escalation. The future is much more challenging and the risks are just so high."