US Tariffs To Hit Equal Number Of Chinese, Foreign Companies - Chinese Commerce Ministry

About half of the companies that will be affected by US import tariffs on China are foreign ones, not Chinese, China's Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said on Thursday.

BEIJING (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th September, 2018) About half of the companies that will be affected by US import tariffs on China are foreign ones, not Chinese, China's Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng said on Thursday.

"Now we are studying the impact that will be exerted by the US tariffs on imports of Chinese goods worth $200 billion. According to preliminary data, the tariffs will affect consumer industry goods, as well as textile, medical and electromechanic goods. Half of the companies [affected by US tariffs] will be with foreign capital," Gao said at a press briefing.

The spokesman pointed out that US trade protectionism posed a threat not only to companies and customers of both countries, but also to the security of global supply chains.

"Currently, the Chinese government is studying the measures aimed at supporting Chinese and foreign companies that may face difficulties," Gao added.

Chinese-US trade tensions escalated in March after US President Donald Trump announced import tariffs on steel and aluminum. Since then, Washington and Beijing have imposed several rounds of tit-for-tat tariffs, with bilateral trade consultations so far failing to halt the mounting trade war.

Trump said on Monday that the United States would impose fresh 10 percent tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods that will take effect on September 24. On January 1, the tariffs are expected to grow to 25 percent.