Here's the latest on the trade war between the world's two economic superpowers.<br />U.S. tariffs on 16-billion U.S. dollars' worth of Chinese imports took effect on Thursday. <br />Wasting no time,... Beijing immediately responded with its own duties on the same amount of American imports.<br />Ko Roon-hee reports. <br /> On Thursday, the United States started charging 25-percent tariffs on Chinese goods worth another 16-billion dollars... even as the two sides held high-level trade talks.<br /> Among the 279 items that'll be affected are key products like semiconductors, chemicals and plastics.<br />Combined with the tarrifs imposed last month, the U.S. now has duties on China worth 50 billion dollars.<br /><br /> The two sides seem far from a resolution... because China retaliated with tariffs of its own on Thursday, also worth 16 billion dollars.<br />China's tariffs will apply to 333 products,… including coal, fuel, steel and automobiles. <br />The Commerce Ministry in Beijing released a statement saying Washington was being obstinate by charging the new tariffs… and that China will continue to take necessary countermeasures.<br /> The ministry also said it will file a complaint against the U.S. with the World Trade Organization,… in its words, to protect free trade and multilateral systems.<br /><br />In the long term, China expressed its willingness to work things out.<br />Its foreign ministry said it hopes for good results in the future.<br /><br />"We hope that the U.S. side can meet China halfway, with a rational and pragmatic attitude, and work with China conscientiously toward a good result."<br /><br />This escalation in the trade war comes despite a high-level delegation from China visiting Washington for trade talks on Wednesday.<br /> Although many expressed hope that the meeting would relieve the rising tensions,... U.S. President Donald Trump had told Reuters on Monday that he didn't expect much.<br />Ko Roon-hee, Arirang News. <br />
