On Tuesday, China announced the implementation of retaliatory tariffs on a range of American goods, as well as the initiation of an antitrust investigation into the tech giant Google. These announcements were made on the same day that the 10 percent tariffs on Chinese products, imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, were set to take effect.
The Ministry of Commerce of China stated that it would introduce 15 percent tariffs on American coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as 10 percent tariffs on crude oil, agricultural equipment, and large vehicles.
"The unilateral tariff increase by Washington seriously violates the rules of the World Trade Organization," the ministry's statement read. "It not only fails to address its own issues but also harms normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the United States."
The 10 percent tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump against China went into effect on Tuesday, even though Trump stated that he plans to negotiate with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming days.
Related- Trump: "The European Union has crossed all boundaries" regarding trade deficits
- Import tariffs: Trump gives Mexico and Canada a breather to discuss border security
In a separate statement, the "State Administration for Market Regulation" of China announced that it is investigating Google on suspicion of violating antitrust laws.
China's response came just hours after Trump agreed to suspend tariffs that he had threatened against Mexico and Canada for 30 days, following both countries' agreement to take measures to strengthen border security and combat drug trafficking.
On Sunday, China reaffirmed its intention to take "necessary countermeasures to protect its legitimate rights and interests" after President Trump's decision to impose 10 percent tariffs on Chinese products due to Beijing's alleged "insufficient action" to stop the flow of chemical components that are then used to illegally produce and smuggle the opioid painkiller fentanyl into the U.S.
The retaliatory measures taken by China will take effect on February 10.