China on Tuesday announced countermeasures after higher US tariffs on Chinese goods took effect.

Beijing said it would slap tariffs of 15 percent on imports of coal and liquefied natural gas products from the US, and 10 percent on imports of crude oil, agricultural machinery, large-displacement vehicles and pickup trucks.

The move comes after 10 percent levies imposed by the Trump administration on Chinese goods took effect at 1pm Beijing time.

“The US’s unilateral tariff increase seriously violates the rules of the World Trade Organization," a Commerce Ministry statement said.

"It is not only unhelpful in solving its own problems, but also damages normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the US.”

The tariffs on US goods will come into force next Monday.

The Commerce Ministry and its Customs Administration also said China is imposing export controls on tungsten, tellurium, ruthenium, molybdenum and ruthenium-related items to "safeguard national security interests".

Meanwhile, the State Administration for Market Regulation said it would probe US tech giant Google on suspicion of violating anti-monopoly laws.

"As Google is suspected of violating the Anti-Monopoly Law of the People's Republic of China, the State Administration for Market Regulation has launched an investigation into Google in accordance with the law," the administration said in a statement.

China also added two US firms to its "unreliable entity list".

They are PVH Group, which owns Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, and Illumina, a biotechnology company with offices in China.

The Commerce Ministry said the two firms "have violated normal market trading principles, terminated regular trade with Chinese companies, and adopted discriminatory measures against Chinese companies, thus severely harming their legitimate rights and interests," according to Xinhua News Agency.

The listing bars them from engaging in China-related import or export activities and from making new investments in the country.

China said it had filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization "to defend its legitimate rights and interests" in response to hiked US tariffs on Chinese goods. (Agencies)
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Last updated: 2025-02-04 HKT 15:20