China responds in kind to new Trump levies amid “constructive, candid” talks

BEIJING - China has imposed a 25% tariff on an additional US$16 billion worth of imports from the United States in response to the latest U.S. duties, leading to a total of US$50 billion worth of goods subject to tariffs from each side since early July.

China's latest tariff was imposed on Thursday on 333 categories of US products, including coal, bicycles, trucks, engines and chemicals, according to the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council, China Daily reported.

The move comes after Washington levied a 25% tariff on US$16 billion worth of Chinese products such as semiconductors on Thursday, after first imposing tariffs on US%34 billion of Chinese imports, including electrical and medical equipment, in July.

Meanwhile, China’s State newsagency, Xinhua, is reporting that, at the invitation of the US side, a Chinese delegation has held "constructive and candid" exchanges on economic and trade issues of mutual concern with U.S. counterparts in Washington.

"Both sides will keep in contact about the future arrangement," China's Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on its website.  www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).