On February 4, 2025, China's Ministry of Commerce announced the implementation of a 15% tariff on U.S. coal and liquefied natural gas, effective February 10. Additionally, a 10% tariff will be levied on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and certain imported vehicles from the United States.
The Chinese government criticized the U.S. tariffs, stating they violate global trade rules. The Ministry of Finance emphasized that unilateral tariff increases by the U.S. severely undermine World Trade Organization regulations and harm normal economic cooperation between the two nations.
As part of its response, China also launched an antitrust investigation against U.S. tech giant Google, alleging violations of its antimonopoly laws. Google, which is blocked in China, collaborates with local partners, but specific details of the investigation remain undisclosed.
Furthermore, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce added two more U.S. companies, Illumina and PVH Corp, to its blacklist, which could lead to penalties and restrictions. The Ministry also announced additional export controls on critical metals essential for the U.S. high-tech industry.
In contrast, Canada and Mexico successfully negotiated a temporary suspension of new U.S. tariffs after discussions with President Trump. Canada agreed to send nearly 10,000 border guards to secure the U.S. border and place Mexican drug cartels on its terrorism list. Mexico's President Sheinbaum also committed to deploying 10,000 soldiers to combat drug smuggling.
Trump has accused Canada, Mexico, and China of not doing enough to prevent the smuggling of fentanyl into the U.S., which contributes to approximately 75,000 overdose deaths annually. The trade dynamics between these countries continue to evolve amidst ongoing negotiations and tariffs.