China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced implementing counter tariffs against the US on multiple products, while declaring other trade-related measures, including an investigation into Google.
The government said it would implement 15% tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas products, as well as a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, large-displacement cars.
“The US’s unilateral tariff increase seriously violates the rules of the World Trade Organisation,” the statement said.
“It is not only unhelpful in solving its own problems, but also damages normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the US.”
The 10% tariff that President Donald Trump ordered on China was set to go into effect on Tuesday, although Trump planned to talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the next few days.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation on Tuesday said it was investigating Google on suspicion of violating antitrust laws. While the announcement did not specifically mention any tariffs, the announcement came just minutes after Trump’s 10% tariffs were to take effect.
In addition to the tariffs, China announced export controls on several elements critical to the production of modern high-tech products. They include tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum and indium, many of which were designated as critical minerals by the US Geological Survey, meaning they are essential to US economic or national security that have supply chains vulnerable to disruption.
The export controls are in addition to ones China placed in December on key elements such as gallium used in manufacturing.
The Commerce Ministry also placed two American companies on an unreliable entities list: PVH Group, which owns Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, and Illumina, which is a biotechnology company with offices in China. The listing bars them from engaging in China-related import or export activities and from making new investments in the country.
