Trump to propose 25% tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese imports: Source

The Trump administration plans to propose slapping a 25-per cent tariff on $200 billion of imported Chinese goods after initially setting them at 10 per cent, a source familiar with the plan said on Tuesday.

President Donald Trump's administration said on July 10 it would seek to impose the 10-per cent tariffs on thousands of Chinese imports, ranging from food products and furniture to chemicals, steel and aluminium.

While the tariffs would not be imposed until after a period of public comment, raising the proposed level to 25 per cent could escalate the trade dispute between the world's two biggest economies.

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The source said the administration could announce the tougher proposal as early as Wednesday.

In early July, the US government imposed 25-per cent tariffs on an initial $34 billion of Chinese imports. Beijing retaliated with matching tariffs on the same amount of US exports to China.