Beijing has announced new tariffs on U.S. imports in response to recent duties imposed by President Trump. Starting February 10, China will impose a 15% tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas, and a 10% tariff on oil, agricultural machinery, large vehicles, and trucks.
The Chinese Ministry of Finance stated that these measures are a direct response to the additional 10% tariff on Chinese products enacted by the U.S. last week. The ministry criticized the unilateral tariffs as violations of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and detrimental to U.S.-China economic cooperation.
In addition to the tariffs, China has initiated a formal investigation into Google for alleged antitrust violations, despite the company's minimal presence in the country due to long-standing restrictions. Furthermore, two U.S. companies, PVH Corp and Illumina Inc, have been added to China's unreliable entities list.
This escalation comes as a potential discussion between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump is anticipated, amid ongoing tensions over trade and drug trafficking issues.