By Joe Cash, Philip Blenkinsop and Andy Sullivan
China and the European Union announced new trade barriers on U.S. goods on Wednesday in response to steep duties imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, escalating a global trade war that has hammered markets and raised the likelihood of recession.
China announced a tariff hike on U.S. imports to 84% from 34%, shortly after Trump’s punitive 104% tariffs on Chinese imports kicked in on Wednesday, as a standoff between the world’s two largest economies showed no signs of resolution.
The EU said it would impose 25% tariffs on a range of U.S. imports in a first round of countermeasures. The 27-member bloc faces U.S. tariffs of 20% on most products and higher duties on autos and steel. Countermeasures in Canada, a close U.S. ally and major trading partner, also took effect on Wednesday.
Targeted U.S. duties on dozens of other countries, from Japan to Madagascar, also took effect, the latest in
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