Chinese shoppers shrug off tariffs on US farm products, pantry staples

Chinese tariffs on a range of American fruit, vegetables and other pantry staples took effect on March 10, but locals at a lively Beijing market largely shrugged off the escalating trade war.

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BEIJING - Chinese tariffs on a range of American fruit, vegetables and other pantry staples took effect on March 10, but locals at a lively Beijing market largely shrugged off the escalating trade war.

The levies of 10 per cent and 15 per cent on American agricultural products, which also include meat, grains and cotton, were imposed after US President Donald Trump raised a blanket tariff on all Chinese goods to 20 per cent last week.

Vendors in a downtown market said they were not worried about sales despite the potential for higher prices at the check-out.

"If prices go up, folks won't eat imported stuff," a fruit seller, surnamed Shi, said. "There will be more domestic goods sold, and I think this is something folks can accept."