Trump administration recommends tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese imports
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative on Tuesday proposed imposing 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports.
"This level is appropriate both in light of the estimated harm to the U.S. economy, and to obtain elimination of China's harmful acts, policies, and practices," the office said in its report. The 1,300 products targeted include lithium batteries, dishwashers, semiconductors, and flame throwers. The Chinese Commerce Ministry responded by saying it will soon announce countermeasures to any tariffs.
President Trump has accused China of stealing the intellectual property of American companies; the tariffs are China's punishment. The public can comment on the proposal through May 11.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Political cartoons for January 18Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include cost of living, endless supply of greed, and more
-
Exploring ancient forests on three continentsThe Week Recommends Reconnecting with historic nature across the world
-
The rise of the spymaster: a ‘tectonic shift’ in Ukraine’s politicsIn the Spotlight President Zelenskyy’s new chief of staff, former head of military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov, is widely viewed as a potential successor
-
What will the US economy look like in 2026?Today’s Big Question Wall Street is bullish, but uncertain
-
Tariffs have American whiskey distillers on the rocksIn the Spotlight Jim Beam is the latest brand to feel the pain
-
TikTok secures deal to remain in USSpeed Read ByteDance will form a US version of the popular video-sharing platform
-
Unemployment rate ticks up amid fall job lossesSpeed Read Data released by the Commerce Department indicates ‘one of the weakest American labor markets in years’
-
Coffee jittersFeature The price of America’s favorite stimulant is soaring—and not just because of tariffs
-
What a rising gold price says about the global economyThe Explainer Institutions, central banks and speculators drive record surge amid ‘loss of trust’ in bond markets and US dollar
-
US mints final penny after 232-year runSpeed Read Production of the one-cent coin has ended
-
Warner Bros. explores sale amid Paramount bidsSpeed Read The media giant, home to HBO and DC Studios, has received interest from multiple buying parties
