China Retaliates Against U.S. Tariffs with Countermeasures and Google Investigation

In response to the latest wave of U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports, China has announced retaliatory tariffs on key American exports and launched an antitrust investigation into Google, escalating trade tensions between the two global powers.

China’s Counter-Tariffs Target U.S. Energy and Auto Sectors

The State Council Tariff Commission confirmed that starting next Monday, China will impose:

• 15% tariffs on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal.
• 10% tariffs on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-engine vehicles

The commission criticized Washington’s unilateral tariff hikes, arguing they violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and disrupt global trade stability.

Despite the measures, analysts suggest that the impact on U.S. exports may be limited, as China imports most of its vehicles from Europe and Japan and only a small fraction of its LNG from the U.S.

Beijing Launches Antitrust Investigation into Google

Alongside the new tariffs, China has opened an antitrust probe into Google, citing concerns over market dominance and data security. This move mirrors previous U.S. actions against Chinese tech giants like Huawei and TikTok, signaling a broader technology battle between the two nations.