Beijing — Companies and trade groups in the US and China have expressed concern over the trade spat between the world’s two biggest economies. Beijing retaliated to tariffs on tens of billions in Chinese imports imposed by US President Donald Trump on Friday, igniting a trade war that threatens to cut into the pair’s massive bilateral trade — potentially harming US multinationals keen on China’s huge market. Top among US products hit with duties are agricultural exports, with soya beans, sorghum, oranges, pork, poultry and beef included in the $34bn of goods targeted for higher border taxes from July. Agricultural trader Cargill, the largest US private company, called for dialogue between Beijing and Washington so businesses, farmers and consumers would not be caught up in an all-out trade war. A spokeswoman for grain trader Archer Daniels Midland also said dialogue should be pursued.
Friday’s announcements cap months of sometimes fraught shuttle diplomacy between Washington a...
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