China's exports to the US were down year-on-year in August. The dive follows July's surprise growth and comes amid a high-pressure campaign by Washington to coerce Beijing into signing a new trade deal.
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China's trade with the United States slipped by 1% in August, official figures showed on Sunday. The year-on-year data were released as a long-running trade spat between the two world powers showed no sign of ending, despite face-to-face negotiations in Shanghai in July.
As the two sides prepared for a further round of negotiations, China's trade surplus also dropped sharply last month to $34.83 billion (€31.32 billion), from $44.58 billion in July, while imports continued a four-month decline at 5.6%.
On September 1, the US imposed a 15% levy on more than $125 billion in Chinese imports including smart speakers, Bluetooth headphones, books, diapers and footwear.
The additional US measures were added to the 25% tariffs on $250 billion in imports already in place.
China has issued its own tit-for-tat tariffs, taxing about $120 billion worth of US goods.
Some have been hit with multiple increases, while about $50 billion of US goods is unaffected, likely to avoid disrupting Chinese industries.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly boasted that the tariffs he has imposed on trading partners are a financial windfall but, research shows it is Americans who bear the brunt of the impact. DW has an overview.
Image: picture-alliance/newscom/B. Greenblatt
Solar panels and washing machines
The first round of tariffs in 2018 were on all imported washing machines and solar panels — not just those from China. A study by economists from the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York, Columbia University, and Princeton University found that the burden of Trump's tariffs — including taxes on steel, aluminum, solar panels falls entirely on US consumers and businesses who buy imported products.
On Friday May 10, 2019 President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on $200 billion (€178 billion) worth of Chinese goods. The move raised tariffs from 10% to 25% on a range of consumer products, including cell phones, computers and toys. China's Commerce Ministry said it "deeply regrets" the US decision.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/STR
Issues with the EU
In April 2019, the United States said it wanted to put tariffs on $11.2 billion worth of goods from the EU. The list includes helicopters and aircraft from Airbus as well as European exports like famous cheeses such as Stilton, Roquefort and Gouda, wines and oysters, ceramics, knives and pajamas.
Image: Imago/Ralph Peters
EU fights back
The EU imposed import duties of 25% on a $2.8 billion range of imports from the United States in retaliation for US tariffs on European steel and aluminum. Targeted US products include Harley-Davidson motorcycles, bourbon, peanuts, blue jeans, steel and aluminum.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/M. Ralston
European automakers next?
May 17, 2019 is the deadline for President Trump to decide on imposing tariffs on vehicle imports from the EU. According to diplomats, Germany, whose exports of cars and parts to the United States are more than half the EU total, wants to press ahead with talks to ward off tariffs on automakers Volkswagen, Mercedes and BMW.
Image: picture alliance/dpa
India not exempt
India, the world's biggest buyer of US almonds, on June 21, 2018 raised import duties on the nuts by 20% and increased tariffs on a range of other farm products and US iron and steel, in retaliation for US tariffs on Indian steel. Trump said last month that he would end preferential trade treatment for India, which would result in US tariffs on up to $5.6 billion of imports from India.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/R. Schmidt
North American neighbors in tariff spat
Mexico on June 5, 2018 imposed tariffs of up to 25% on American steel, pork, cheese, apples, potatoes and bourbon, in retaliation for US tariffs on Mexican metals. While to the north, Canada on July 1 imposed tariffs on $12.6 billion worth of U.S. goods, including steel, aluminum, coffee, ketchup and bourbon whiskey in retaliation for US tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.
Image: Edgard Garrido/REUTERS
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Deadlock
US President Donald Trump has accused China of using predatory tactics, including forcing foreign companies to hand over technology and stealing trade secrets. The dispute has weighed on global markets and soured relations between Washington and Beijing.
The two sides have agreed to hold further discussions in Washington in early October, later than expected.
