U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly ready to impose tariffs on 200 billion dollars more in Chinese imports as soon as a public comment period on the plan ends next week.<br />The potential move was reported by Bloomberg on Thursday.<br />For more on this and other news around the world we turn to our Ro Aram…<br />Aram… could we see this trade conflict escalate further?<br /><br /> Well Mark… it is hard to tell at the moment as the Bloomberg report notes that President Trump's position is not final. <br /> It also suggests that if any tariffs were to be imposed, they would be enacted in installments.<br />Any announcement on the matter is likely to come out late next week after the public-comment period.<br />Companies and members of the public have until next Thursday to submit comments on the proposed duties.<br />The report also said it's possible any tariffs imposed would take effect at a later date.<br />The White House is yet to comment on the report.<br /> Markets have reacted badly to the news, with the S&P 500 hitting session lows and the U.S. dollar, Chinese yuan and U.S. Treasury yields also falling.<br /> If the U.S. goes ahead with slapping duties on 200 billion dollars-worth of Chinese goods, it would be largest so far and could escalate what is already a tense trade war between the world's two largest economies.<br />The new proposed 25 percent tariffs would also affect more products, including home building supplies, bicycles and clothing.<br />The Trump administration has already applied tariffs to 50 billion dollars of Chinese goods, with Beijing retaliating in kind.<br />Talks aimed at easing trade tensions ended last week without major breakthroughs. <br />
