China-U.S. Trade Relations Plagued by Protectionism

China yesterday (Wednesday) slapped the U.S. chicken industry with the second set of tariffs in less than three months, further escalating tensions with its all-important Western trade partner. China's commerce ministry said the new tariffs, which will impose charges of as much as 31.4% on imports of U.S. chicken, were a response to what it said were subsidies that created an unfair advantage for U.S. chicken producers. China in February imposed a 105.4% duty on imports of U.S. poultry after a government investigation found that such products were being sold by the United States at less than the fair value. The new tariffs could altogether close off the market to U.S. poultry producers. China and the United States have a long history of trade disputes, but these conflicts in recent years have escalated in both frequency and intensity as the two nations vie for global influence.