Other items that have been on the US target list since the summer include milking machines for dairy cows, incubators for baby chicks, flight data recorders, x-ray tubes, bulldozers and arc lamps as well as motorcycles and mopeds.
Chinese imports from the United States grew by nearly 500 percent over the past five years, such that as of 2017 Chinese buyers accounted for almost one in every five dollars in US export revenue.
Beijing has since accused the United States of starting the "largest trade war in economic history." In retaliating, China in July announced tariffs on American agricultural goods and autos. Also in Beijing's crosshairs are exports like hybrid electric and off-road vehicles, coal, dump trucks, asphalt, MRI machines and motorcycles, among other items.
Harley-Davidson will have to bump up the Chinese price of its iconic motorbikes at least 20 percent, a store representative in Beijing said. That adds to the American beef, pork, many types of fish, and dozens of fruits and nuts that were taxed in July.
The most painful perhaps is the tariff on US soybeans, which chokes off a key export market for American farmers, who shipped $14 billion of the beans to China last year.
If China then slaps tariffs on another $60 billion in US goods, this will bring total US exports subject to Beijing's retaliation to $110 billion, at 2017 sales levels.
With 50 days to go before crucial mid-term elections and many in Trump's own Republican party are queasy about Trump's trade wars, which have drawn loud objections from senior figures within the party.
American officials said Monday they were conscious of the need for American businesses to find alternate suppliers before the tariffs hit.
"If the tariffs go to 25 percent at the beginning of the year, you will have had almost six months to get your business ready for that," a senior administration official told reporters on Monday.
In a further attempt to cushion the blow, Washington canceled plans to put tariffs on about 300 product categories, including hot consumer items like smart watches and Bluetooth-enabled devices, chemicals for manufacturing, agriculture and textiles, as well as bicycle helmets, and children's high chairs, car seats and play pens.