China’s counterattack: New tariffs, Google probe and export curbs on US

China announced that it would retaliate against President Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods by imposing tariffs of its own on various US imports. 

Additionally, China launched an antitrust investigation into Google and introduced other trade measures targeting the US, intensifying trade tensions between the two economic giants, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

Meanwhile, US tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico were set to take effect today, February 4, but President Trump delayed the implementation for at least a month following discussions with the leaders of both countries. They agreed to increase efforts to combat the flow of drugs and migrants across their shared borders. Trump is also scheduled to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming days.

China stated that it would impose a 15% tariff on coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) products, as well as a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-engine cars imported from the US. These tariffs are set to go into effect on Monday.

"The US's unilateral tariff increase seriously violates the rules of the World Trade Organization," a statement from China's Ministry of Finance read. "It is not only unhelpful in solving its own problems, but also damages normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the US."

Beijing also announced its intention to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) over the "malicious" tariffs.

Although China is the world's largest importer of LNG, with Australia, Qatar, and Malaysia being its main suppliers, the US, as the biggest global exporter of LNG, does not significantly export LNG to China.

In addition to the tariffs, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation launched an antitrust investigation into Google, suspecting the company of violating antitrust laws. The investigation was announced just minutes after Trump’s 10% tariffs on Chinese products were scheduled to take effect.

It remains unclear how this investigation will impact Google's operations in China. The company has a minimal presence in the country, and its search engine is blocked, like many other Western platforms. Google withdrew from China in 2010 after refusing to comply with government censorship requests and following cyberattacks on the company.

In addition to the tariffs and Google probe, China imposed export controls on several materials crucial for the production of high-tech products. These materials include tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum, and indium, all of which are considered critical minerals by the US Geological Survey and vital to US economic and national security. The new controls follow China’s December restrictions on other key elements, such as gallium, used in manufacturing.

China's Ministry of Commerce also placed two American companies on its "unreliable entities" list: PVH Group, which owns Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, and Illumina, a biotechnology company. The designation restricts their ability to engage in import or export activities with China or make new investments in the country.

PVH Group has been under investigation since September 2024 for alleged "improper Xinjiang-related behaviour," after reportedly boycotting the use of cotton sourced from Xinjiang.

By Tamilla Hasanova