The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Wednesday was down 45.16 points or 0.18 per cent to 25 583.75. The S&P 500 erased 0.075 point or 0.03 per cent to 2 857.70 Xinhua news agency reported.
The Nasdaq Composite Index increased 4.66 points or 0.06 per cent to 7 888.33.
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced on Wednesday a 25 per cent charge on $16 billion worth of US goods including auto and crude oil.
The announcement came after the US government released a finalised list of $16 billion worth of Chinese goods that will be charged with higher tariffs.
This earnings season has been stronger than analysts had expected.
Second quarter earnings are expected to increase 23.5 per cent from the same period last year. Excluding the energy sector the earnings growth estimate declines to 20.4 per cent.
--IANS pgh/
