China Retaliates Against Donald Trump, Imposes 15-25% Tariffs on US Imports

Beijing : China announced new tariffs ranging from 15% to 25% on various US imports on Tuesday in response to the latest trade measures imposed by former US President Donald Trump. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated that these countermeasures are necessary to address unfair US trade policies and protect its economic interests.

China’s New Tariff Structure

According to AP reports, the newly imposed tariffs include:

• 15% tariff on coal and LNG products
• 10% tariff on crude oil and other goods

The decision follows Trump’s 10% tariff on Chinese imports, which was set to take effect on Tuesday.

China Criticizes US Trade Policy

In an official statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce condemned the unilateral increase in US tariffs, stating that it violates World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

“The US’s unilateral tariff increase seriously violates WTO rules. It does not help solve its own economic problems and damages normal trade cooperation between China and the US,” the ministry said.

Chinese officials also warned that the ongoing trade dispute could have severe economic consequences, stressing that there is "no winner in a trade war."

China Investigates Google for Antitrust Violations

In a related move, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation announced an antitrust investigation against Google on Tuesday. While the investigation was not officially linked to the tariffs, the timing of the announcement—minutes after Trump's tariffs took effect—suggests a possible retaliatory measure.

Trump’s Tariff Strategy

The Trump administration had recently imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese imports and an additional 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico. The White House justified the move as part of efforts to combat illegal immigration and stop drug trafficking.

"President Trump is taking bold action to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable to their promises of halting illegal immigration and stopping the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into the US," the White House said.

China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Fu Cong, stated that Beijing would file a complaint with the WTO and consider further countermeasures if necessary.

Escalating Trade War

The latest tariff battle between China and the US has reignited global concerns over the impact of trade wars on economic stability. While China insists that higher tariffs will hurt the US economy, the Trump administration continues to defend its policies as a necessary step to protect American interests.