Trump Tags Chinese With New Tariffs, Beijing Reacts

(BEIJING, CHINA) When Chinese trade negotiators unexpectedly stood up and walked out on U.S. negotiators recently, President Trump pulled the trigger on another round of tariffs. He stunned the world by announcing another ten percent in tariffs on the remaining $300 billion in Chinese imports beginning September 1st. Disputes over China’s trade practices are what led the United States to initiate tariffs one year ago and they continue to be the center of the trade negotiations. China quickly retaliated by allowing its currency (the yuan) to fall against the U.S. dollar. On Monday, the yuan fell to its lowest level in more than a decade. The U.S. Treasury Department fired back quickly by determining for the first time since 1994 that China was manipulating its currency. Though both sides are expected to meet again for further talks next month, the administration appears ready to dig in for the long haul. Global watchers are eager to see the most recent trade data from China as imports as July exports are expected to have declined two percent year over year following a 1.3 percent decrease in June. China‘s economic growth slowed to 6.2 percent in the second quarter, its weakest pace in at least 27 years, as demand at home and abroad faltered in the face of mounting U.S. trade pressure. In addition, the Chinese have said they will not honor their previous commitment to purchase more U.S. agricultural products.