International Trade Commission has announced hefty tariffs on certain large residential washing machines made in China.
Trump also has said he may raise tariffs on Chinese goods sold in the US.
Multinationals are less concerned with goods tariffs, which are now generally low and belong to an earlier era of trade governance, than they are with trying to protect the specialist knowledge on which their global supply chains depend.
Chancellor Philip Hammond is still arguing the case that Britain should seek to remain at least partially a member of the customs union, intended to allow the trade in goods to continue without border checks and tariffs.
TPP would have removed more than 18,000 tariffs that had made our exports more expensive and less competitive in 11 Pacific Rim markets.
The ruling could allow the US to impose tariffs on European goods.
Mr Trump repeatedly criticised Apple on the campaign trail for making its products abroad and has threatened to slap import tariffs of 45pc on Chinese goods.
If the ruling stands, the US would have the right to impose tariffs on any goods imported from the EU; Washington has threatened levies totalling $10bn.
Promising massive import tariffs or a wall with Mexico is easy.
The deal will see South Korea eliminate tariffs on nearly 80 percent of all products from China within 10 years after the implementation.
The market leader, Telekom Austria, raised tariffs for smartphone users by nearly 50 per cent last year.
