US-China trade war will have limited impact

Tariffs likely to compound already weakening energy flows between economic powerhouses and lead to trade being rerouted

China’s decision to impose retaliatory tariffs on American crude oil and LNG imports after US President Donald Trump’s new punitive measures on Beijing is set to pause the already softening trade in the fuels between the world’s two largest economies, while the standoff could also reroute global energy trade flows as Chinese importers seek alternative supplies.  Chinese tariffs of 15% on LNG and coal from the US, as well as a 10% levy on crude oil, took effect on 10 February, in response to the Trump administration’s opening salvo of an additional 10% duty on all Chinese goods. While the tit-for-tat tariffs mark a flare-up in the US-China trade war started by Trump in his first presidency an