Long before President Trump wielded tariffs as a weapon to punish Indonesia, the country was fighting back a flood of cheap Chinese goods.

China reported a better-than-expected economic growth as the world’s second largest economy took advantage of a trade truce with the US amid President Donald Trump’s tariff offensive.

China has been a fierce critic of sweeping U.S. tariffs that Trump announced on April 2. He later delayed the implementation of most but China, which has said it will respond with its own tariffs on U.S. imports, now faces a deadline next month to negotiate a deal.

The Commerce Department plans to impose a 93.5 percent levy on Chinese graphite, an essential ingredient in the batteries that power electric vehicles.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said in a letter that he will raise taxes on many imported goods from Canada to 35%, deepening a rift between two North American countries that have suffered a debilitating blow to their decades-old alliance.

Tariffs—taxes placed on imported goods—are one of the oldest tools in the United States' economic policy arsenal, dating back to the 18th century. Recently they've returned to the spotlight in a big way.

The operators of Chicago-area companies that make such goods as kitchen and organizational products say higher tariffs on Chinese imports is threatening the survival of their businesses.

U.S. seaport operators are asking for extra time to implement pending tariffs on towering ship-to-shore cranes as they expect President Donald Trump's administration to follow through on a promise to essentially ban that vital cargo-handling equipment.