At the weekend the trade war between the US and China intensified and, for the first time since Donald Trump decided to initiate the conflict, US consumers are going to directly experience its impact.

Until the weekend most of the tariffs the Trump administration has imposed on Chinese imports since the trade war started in January last year were directed to business inputs rather than consumer goods. That changed on Sunday when the first of two tranches of new tariffs on a wide range of consumer products went live.

The trade war started by the US president is about to hit his voters. Credit:AP

The 15 per cent tariff on about $US112 billion ($166 billion) of consumer products will be followed by a similar tax on another $US160 billion or so of products on December 15. That second tranche was deferred so as not to affect American households in the lead-up to Christmas, with Trump saying that was "just in case" some of the tariffs had an impact on US consumers.

From this week goods ranging from clothing, footwear and textiles to some consumer technology products, lawnmowers and tools will incur the tariff. In December tariffs will be imposed on smartphones, laptops, prams, consumer electronics, sports equipment, video game consoles, toys and clothing and footwear not caught by the initial tranche.