Nepal, March 10 -- Chinese tariffs on a range of US fruit, vegetables and other pantry staples took effect on Monday but locals at a lively Beijing market largely shrugged off the escalating trade war.

The levies of 10 and 15 percent on American agricultural products, which also include meat, grains and cotton, were imposed after US President Donald Trump raised a blanket tariff on all Chinese goods to 20 percent last week.

Vendors in a downtown market said they weren't worried about sales despite the potential for higher prices at the check-out.

"If prices go up, folks won't eat imported stuff," a fruit seller, surnamed Shi, told AFP.

"There will be more domestic goods sold, and I think this is something folks can accept."

Shi's off...