OREANDA-NEWS  The US authorities have decided to sharply tighten import duties on Chinese products due to China's refusal to lift tariffs on American goods. This is reported by Bloomberg with reference to the words of a representative of the White House administration.

Information about the next escalation of the trade and economic confrontation between Washington and Beijing was also confirmed by Fox Business journalist Edward Lawrence. He specified that additional duties on Chinese goods will take effect at 19:00 Moscow time.

China's exporters will be charged increased fees from April 9, as in the case of suppliers from other countries. The main reason for the tightening of customs measures against Chinese goods, the White House noted, was Beijing's refusal to lift duties of 34 percent on all American goods entering the Asian country.

The tightening of the US customs policy towards China was not the first. In early March, Washington doubled tariffs on imports from China from 10 to 20 percent of the market value. A month later, the Trump administration approved new tariffs on Chinese goods and set the target at 34 percent.

China responded with a mirror measure. In addition, the Chinese government has restricted investments by local companies in the American economy and the export of seven types of rare earth metals. The Ministry of Commerce (Ministry of Trade) of the Asian country assured that they are ready to go all the way in the trade war with the United States.