Trump ready for tariffs on Chinese imports

Donald Trump has further escalated the trade war between the US and China, and says he's ready to place tariffs on imported goods from China.

US President Donald Trump says he is poised to place tariffs on $US500 billion ($A679 billion) of imported goods from China, threatening in an interview with CNBC to escalate the current trade clash with the Asian nation.

"We're down a tremendous amount," Trump said in the interview, which was recorded on Thursday, about trade imbalances with China.

"I'm ready to go to 500."