The administration also put a tariff on imported washing machines.China, the world's biggest solar panel producer, has already branded the move an "over-reaction". "Protectionism is a double-edged sword. "It's impossible China's consumption will surpass the US in 2018," said Tang Jianwei , an analyst at the Bank of Communications in Shanghai. "Consumption accounts for 70 percent of the US economy, while in China it only accounts for 30 percent," he said. "And China's economy is not as large as the US's yet."

Source: Economic Times January 24, 2018 09:33 UTC