machine tool

The sudden hike has now shocked the country, as tariffs could seriously affect companies that produce pharmaceuticals, jewellery, and machine tools.

The U.S. says China has greatly expanded supplies of machine tools, microelectronics and other technology to Russia that is used to make missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weapons.

But the Biden administration has prodded Xi’s government over its sale to Russia of so-called dual-use items — components such as machine tools, microelectronics and rocket propellant, which have civilian and military uses.

"The overwhelming majority of machine tools coming from China, microelectronics, these are going directly into strengthening Russia's defence industrial base," he says.

On Thursday Mr Blinken will warn foreign minister Wang Yi that China needs to curb the exports of machine tools and microchips to Russia.