The increase in US tariffs on Chinese imports came into force

The United States on Friday imposed a 25 percent increase over the original 10 percent in tariffs on Chinese imports valued at $ 200 billion, a move that is clouding negotiations with Beijing to stem the trade war between two largest global economies.

This Friday at 00:01 on the east coast of the United States (04:01 GMT) came into effect the increase in tariffs on more than 5,000 Chinese products announced last Sunday by US President Donald Trump, and that China I had tried to stop during the negotiations against the clock in Washington.

White House sources had confirmed shortly before midnight that the rates would come into effect as planned.

In response, China regretted "deeply" the decision of the United States to raise tariffs and tariffs from 10 to 25% announced that it will have to adopt "the necessary countermeasures".

In a statement issued a few minutes after the US announcement, Chinese Ministry of Commerce says trade talks with Washington "are under way" and hopes that both parties "will work together to resolve existing problems through cooperation and dialogue".

The working dinner organized on Thursday by the Chief Negotiator ChinaDeputy Prime Minister Liu He, along with Robert Lighthizer, Director of US Foreign Trade, and Steven Mnuchin, Treasury Secretary, have not changed Washington's plans.

Liu will meet again this Friday with US negotiators, with the aim of reaching a pact to remove, reduce or limit the impact of tariffs.

Last Sunday, Trump broke a truce of more than six months in the trade war by announcing that it would increase this Friday to 25% the customs duties imposed last year on Chinese products. worth $ 200,000 million.

The US president has returned to his original plan to increase the burden of tariffs on these Chinese products, which he decided to freeze last December to open a negotiation with China who is always active.

Sunday's announcement revolutionized markets and increased uncertainty about talks between the two powers, which only a week ago seemed to be moving closer to signing a trade deal.

The tariff increase this Friday affects more than a third of Chinese exports to the United Statesamong which are products such as cereals, textiles, building materials, chemicals and fuels.

Trump threatened Thursday to impose additional duties of 25% to an additional $ 325,000 million China, which would cover the total value of Chinese products imported annually by the United States.