CHINA will impose tariffs on imports of U.S. liquefied natural gas, coal, crude oil and farm equipment as well as an antitrust probe into Google after the United States imposed 10% tariffs on Chinese imports. The fresh duties, announced by the Customs Tariff Commission (CTC) of the State Council yesterday, levy a 15% tax on certain types of coal and liquefied natural gas and a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, large-displacement cars and pickup trucks. The measures take effect Feb. 10. The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and General Administration of Customs (GAC) also announced a list of new export controls including tungsten-related materials, typically used in industrial and defense applications, as well as materials linked to tellurium, which can be used to make solar cells. The ministry also said it was adding two American firms — biotech company Illumina and fashion retailer PVH Group, owner of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger — to its unreliable entities list, saying they violated normal market trading principles. In a separate statement, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation said it was initiating an investigation into Google for suspected violation of China’s Anti-Monopoly Law. The raft of announcements comes as a broad-based 10% tariff on Chinese imports to the United States announced by the White House on Saturday came into effect. The U.S. Government’s decision to impose additional tariff on all Chinese goods is a unilateral tariff increase, which seriously violates the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the CTC said, noting that the move undermines normal economic and trade ties between China and the U.S. without mending the domestic woes faced by the United States. China has filed a case with the WTO dispute settlement mechanism to defend its legitimate rights and interests after the Trump administration’s 10% tariff increase.(SD-Xinhua) | 