US President Donald Trump on Friday ignited his trade war with China, slapping tariffs on tens of billions in Chinese imports and sparking immediate retaliation from Beijing.

The moves brought the world's two largest economies to the verge of an all-out confrontation long feared by markets and industry.

And the China trade offensive is only one side of Trump's multi-front battle with all major US economic partners.

The announcement caps months of sometimes fraught shuttle diplomacy in which Chinese offers to purchase more American goods failed to assuage Trump's grievances over the soaring trade imbalance and Beijing's aggressive industrial development policies.

And as Trump warned of "additional tariffs" should Beijing hit back with tit-for-tat duties on American goods, China unveiled 25 percent duties on $50 billion in US imports.

"The United States can no longer tolerate losing our technology and intellectual property through unfair economic practices," Trump said.

"These tariffs are essential to preventing further unfair transfers of American technology and intellectual property to China, which will protect American jobs."

But at least initially, Trump's new China tariffs will not cover the full $50 billion that Trump announced Friday.

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said the punitive duties will apply on 818 Chinese products valued at $34 billion starting July 6, with a second list of $16 billion to be considered under a new review process -- bringing the total possible affected import volume to $50 billion.

But it is likely companies will seek more exemptions so the final total could fall short of that amount.

Beijing's countermeasures closely mirrored Washington's, with 545 American exports, also valued at $34 billion, facing punitive duties as of July 6, including agricultural products and vehicles, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

The State Council said another 114 items will be subject to tariffs at a later date, according to Xinhua.

US farmers are especially concerned about the impact of a trade war, since they are sure to feel the hit.

- Stinging reprisals as vote looms -

China's Ministry of Commerce said the decision to impose tariffs meant "all previously agreed trade negotiation results are no longer valid."

"It is deeply regrettable that in disregard of the consensus between the two sides, the US has demonstrated flip-flops and ignited a trade war," the ministry said.

It also called on other countries to "take collective action" against this "outdated and backwards behavior."

But the White House maintains that any Chinese countermeasures would be unjust and could be met with further US sanctions.

"We have taken essentially a defensive action," a senior US official told reporters, adding that "further threats that are going to hurt other industries... would be a mistake."

The official, who asked not to be identified, declined to say whether Trump would make good on a March threat to hit another $100 billion in Chinese goods with tariffs in response to Beijing's retaliation.

China in April already put punitive duties on 128 US goods, including pork, wine and certain pipes in response to global US tariffs on steel and aluminum imposed by Trump the month before.

The US president outraged Canadian, Mexican and European leaders last month by imposing the steel and aluminum tariffs to protect American producers from allegedly unfair competition.

Brussels, Ottawa, Beijing and Mexico City already have shown they intend to inflict damage on export industries in politically-sensitive voting districts -- something which could prove damaging to Republicans already facing a loss of power in November's mid-term elections.

In a conversation on Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump "called on the European Union to enter into negotiations to reduce trade barriers," the White House said in a statement.

On Capitol Hill, influential Texas Republican lawmaker Kevin Brady, chairman of a House tax legislation committee, said he was "alarmed" by the tariffs which he said exposed US industries to "devastating retaliation."

"I am concerned that these new tariffs will hurt American manufacturers, farmers, workers and consumers," he said.

And the powerful US Chamber of Commerce warned that hundreds of thousands of Americans could lose their jobs if the trade war escalated and included the auto import tariffs that Trump has threatened.

"If these actions continue, our businesses will lose customers, workers will lose jobs, and American consumers will lose family income through higher taxes and higher prices," Chamber President Thomas Donahue said.

He also noted that the metals tariffs have pushed steel prices 40 percent higher since January.

Boeing, others assessing impact of US-China tariffs
New York (AFP) June 15, 2018 - US trade groups and some large companies such as Boeing said Friday they were beginning to evaluate how new tariffs in the US-China trade spat could affect their operations.

"We are assessing the impact these tariffs and any reciprocal action could have on our supply chain and commercial business," said Boeing spokesman Charles Bickers.

The comments came in response to news that President Donald Trump would impose 25 percent tariffs on tens of billions in Chinese imports, sparking immediate retaliation from Beijing.

Boeing garnered about 12.8 percent of its 2017 revenues from China and is frequently seen as among the more vulnerable US multinationals to an all-out trade war.

"We will continue to engage with leaders in both countries to urge a productive dialogue to resolve trade differences, highlighting the mutual economic benefits of a strong and prosperous aerospace industry," Bickers added.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association, while praising the Trump administration for dropping an earlier plan to place levies on key equipment and machinery used by the industry, said China's retaliatory measures could harm American farmers and textile manufacturers and add costs to the industry's supply chain.

"President Trump is fixated with tariffs, which he believes he can wield freely; but there are grave consequences to the use of tariffs," said AAFA president Rick Helfenbein. "Congress needs to step in now to end this dangerous obsession."

"The tariffs imposed on products imported by American businesses -- and the resulting retaliatory tariffs against exports made by American manufacturers and farmers -- amount to a huge 'Trump Tax' on American workers, American consumers, and the American economy," Helfenbein said.

Other trade groups opposing the US tariffs included the Business Roundtable and the US Chamber of Commerce.

Among those expected to be hit by bruising tariffs are US automakers, which have targeted China as a growth market.

Ford on Friday reported a dip in May sales in China but said it had recently implemented a price cut on imported Ford cars and Lincoln vehicles following a cut in tariffs. Ford has sold 338,386 cars thus far in China in 2018, about one-third the number in the US.

"We continue to encourage both governments to work together through negotiation to resolve issues between these two important economies," a Ford spokesman said.

Friday's announcements cap months of sometimes fraught shuttle diplomacy between Washington and Beijing, in which Chinese offers to purchase more US goods failed to assuage Trump's grievances over the soaring trade imbalance and the country's industrial development policies.

Eurasia Group analysts said the latest maneuvers meant there was "a substantial risk of escalation and a more prolonged dispute" that could last well into the fall.

US: trade war waged on many fronts
Paris (AFP) June 15, 2018 - The United States on Friday announced new tariffs on Chinese exports, the latest front in its emerging trade war with key partners.

The new measures come hot on the heels of recent US tariffs on steel and aluminium which have prompted tit-for-tat moves from trading partners such as the European Union, Canada and Mexico.

Here is a panorama of the trade conflict:

- China -

Washington's new tariffs of 25 percent targeting $50 billion in Chinese imports make good on a pledge to punish the alleged theft of American intellectual property.

China vowed to "immediately" respond and "launch tax measures of equal scale and equal strength".

China, also affected by steel tariffs, called on other countries to "take collective action".

The administration of US President Donald Trump wants to reduce by $200 billion its $375 billion trade deficit with Beijing.

- European Union -

EU countries on Thursday approved a raft of tit-for-tat tariffs targeting dozens of US goods including emblematic exports like jeans, whiskey and motorcycles following the new steel levies.

The countermeasures target 2.8 billion euros ($3.3 billion) of American imports.

Europe is also worried that Washington will follow up on a threat to impose punitive tariffs on imported cars, something particularly feared by the powerful German car industry.

- Canada and Mexico -

Canada and Mexico, both members with Washington of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), have not been spared the US offensive.

Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau traded barbs over the steel tariffs at a tense summit of the G7 richest countries last weekend.

Trump pointed to a high trade deficit with Canada, something denied by Ottawa.

Canada has also vowed to take retaliatory measures against Washington in July.

Meanwhile negotiations between Washington, Mexico and Canada to modernise NAFTA have hit troubled waters over cars.

The Trump administration wants cars made in Mexico or Canada to be mainly manufactured with US-made parts.

Following Washington's announcement on steel and aluminium tariffs, Mexico has also decided to impose equivalent customs tariffs on US goods, including some steel products, cheese and fruit.

- Russia -

Russia has informed the World Trade Organization that it is planning retalitarory measures against Washington, estimating the damage of the steel tariffs at $538 million.

Trade relations between Washington and Moscow were already strained by sanctions imposed by Washington targeting oligarchs and businesses accused of supporting President Vladimir Putin's efforts to undermine Western democracies.

- Iran -

Trump announced in May he was abandoning the hard-won 2015 nuclear deal with Iran -- which will mean new sanctions on the Islamic republic and punitive measures for those who trade with it.

Several major firms -- including France's Total and Peugeot, and Russia's Lukoil -- have said they are preparing to exit Iran before US deadlines, the last of which is November 4.

- Japan -

Japan has informed the WTO that it plans to impose retalitatory measures on US goods to a tune of 50 billion yens (385 million euros, $446 million) following the steel tariffs, which have applied to it since March.

The country's main concern is over the threat of tariffs on US imports of cars.

- South Korea -

The White House announced on May 1 it had finalised a free trade accord with Seoul, ending a trade conflict with South Korea.

Under the agreement Seoul accepted to open up its car sector more to US carmakers. It has also accepted to reduce by 30 percent its exports of steel to the US.

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