Donald Trump wanted a trade war. Here's what one looks like

The law hiked US tariffs by an average of 20 percent, initially to protect American farmers but then broadened as other industries lobbied for protections

In a two-week span, US President Donald Trump ordered up an array of tariffs against numerous countries, blocked Chinese takeovers of US companies and sought new restrictions on future Chinese investment. Economists are warning that the world is on the verge of an all-out trade war, featuring tit-for-tat reprisals, heated rhetoric and appeals to the World Trade Organization, which may be ill-equipped to respond. If Trump’s trade provocations mushroom out of control, dozens of border-opening trade deals negotiated over several decades could be shoved aside. The prospect of slower economic growth has stock markets worldwide reeling.

1 What is a