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US wages trade war with China with new $200bn tariffs

Donald Trump has intensified America's trade war with China by imposing new $200bn (£152bn) tariffs on imports.

The higher import taxes will start at 10% from Monday before rising to 25% on 1 January, the White House announced.

The US president said further tariffs worth $267bn (£203bn) will be placed on Chinese imports if Beijing takes "retaliatory action against our farmers or other industries".

"Once again, I urge China's leaders to take swift action to end their country's unfair trade practices," Mr Trump said.

"Hopefully, this trade situation will be resolved, in the end, by myself and President Xi of China, for whom I have great respect and affection."

Mr Trump has threatened to target all $500bn (£380bn) of Chinese imports unless Beijing agrees to sweeping changes to its intellectual property practices over what his administration alleges are unfair trade practices.

China denies the allegations and had already vowed to hit back with tariffs on $60bn (£45bn) in American goods.

The US had already imposed 25% tariffs on $50bn (£38bn) in Chinese imports.

The new tariffs reportedly apply to more than 5,000 items including handbags, rice and textiles.

In a victory for Apple (NasdaqGS: AAPL - news) and its US customers, smart watches and some other consumer electronics products were removed from the latest list.

In a statement, Mr Trump insisted China's trade practices "plainly constitute a grave threat to the long-term health and prosperity of the United States economy".

"For months, we have urged China to change these unfair practices, and give fair and reciprocal treatment to American companies," he said.

"We have been very clear about the type of changes that need to be made, and we have given China every opportunity to treat us more fairly. But, so far, China has been unwilling to change its practices."

Mr Trump has previously complained about America's massive trade deficit - $336bn (£255bn) last year - with China, its biggest trading partner.