China Strikes Back, Imposes 15% Tariffs on US Coal, LNG Imports
China has fired back at the US with tariffs on American goods, including a 15% levy on coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports.
This move is in direct response to US tariffs imposed on Chinese goods.
The Ministry of Finance in Beijing announced the measures in Tuesday, which also include a 10% tariff on US oil and agricultural machinery, set to take effect on February 10.
The trade tensions between the two nations have escalated, with China’s retaliation coming swiftly after the US imposed its tariffs.
The US is a relatively small supplier of crude oil to China, accounting for only 1.7% of its imports last year, worth around $6 billion.
However, China’s imports of US LNG have increased substantially, with 4.16 million tons valued at $2.41 billion imported in 2024, nearly double the 2018 volume.
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According to the ministry, a 10 per cent tariff will also be applied to oil and agricultural machinery imported from the U.S., in measures set to come into force on February 10.
In addition, Beijing announced an antitrust investigation into U.S. technology giant Google.
U.S tariffs of 10 per cent on all Chinese imports were due to take effect shortly after midnight on Tuesday Washington time (0500 GMT), after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the measures on Saturday.
U.S tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico, also announced by Trump on Saturday, were suspended for a month shortly before they were due to kick in following agreements between the U.S. and its two neighbors. There was initially no such agreement with China.
Earlier on Monday, Trump did say that talks with the Chinese side would take place within 24 hours.
Trump won November’s presidential election promising to slap high tariffs on foreign goods. He previously implemented a number of duties during his first term tenure from 2017 to 2021.
By PRNigeria
