China hits US with new tariffs on agricultural products, expands export controls

China will impose additional tariffs of 10-15% on a range of US agricultural products starting March 10, in retaliation for the United States' tariff policy, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced.

The new 15% duties will apply to chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton imported from the United States. A 10% tariff will be levied on other products, including sorghum, soybeans, beef, aquatic products, fruits, vegetables, and dairy goods, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

In a further escalation, China has placed fifteen US companies on its export control list, citing concerns over national security and interests. The Ministry of Commerce stated that these companies represent a "threat to national security and interests" and banned Chinese vendors from selling dual-use goods to them.

The companies added to the list include Leidos, Gibbs&Cox, IP Video Market Info, Sourcemap, Skydio, Rapid Flight, Red Six Solutions, Shield AI, HavocAI, Neros Technologies, Group W, Aerkomm, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, General Dynamics Land Systems, and AeroVironment.

China’s is a major importer of American farm products, though its purchases dipped after Trump launched a trade war during his first term in office, and then recovered.

In 2021-22, the United States logged record export values to China for soybeans, corn, beef, chicken meat, tree nuts, and sorghum. Cotton exports to China also rebounded, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. U.S. farm exports to China totaled $33.8 billion in fiscal 2023 and $36.4 billion in fiscal 2022.

By Khagan Isayev