China Imposes 15% Tariffs on U.S. Products, Investigates Google

China said on Tuesday it was launching an investigation into Google over alleged antitrust violations and imposing additional tariffs on some U.S. products, a move seen as retaliation by the U.S. administration for imposing new tariffs on all Chinese goods. China's State Administration for Market Regulation said on Tuesday that it has launched a formal investigation into US tech giant Google over suspected violations of China's anti-monopoly law, reports Global Times. Earlier today, the State Council's Customs Tariff Commission said that from February 10 an additional 15 percent tariff will be imposed on coal and liquefied natural gas imported from the United States.

An additional tariff of 10 per cent will be levied on crude oil, agricultural machinery, large-displacement automobiles and pickup trucks, the statement said. Additionally, Beijing said it has decided to add two U.S. firms namely Calvin Klein owner PVH Corp and Illumina Inc. to China's unreliable entity list.

According to a statement issued by the country's commerce ministry, the two entities have violated the common market trading principles, terminated regular trade with Chinese companies and adopted discriminatory measures against Chinese companies, seriously harming their legitimate rights and interests. The U.S. government led by President Donald Trump on Saturday decided to impose additional tariffs on all goods imported from China in addition to the current tariffs, which will come into effect in the U.S. after midnight on Tuesday.

Trump said he was doing so because he blamed Beijing's failure to stem the flow of illicit drugs. China has filed a case in the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism to protect its legitimate rights and interests.

A spokesman for China's Ministry of Commerce said today that the increase in tariffs by the US constitutes a serious violation of WTO rules, which is a "clear act of unilateralism and trade protectionism". The US moves severely undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system, disrupt the foundations of China-US economic and trade cooperation, and destabilize global supply chains, the spokesperson said.