China Imposes Tariffs on US Imports

On Tuesday, China announced new tariffs on U.S. imports, including 15% on liquefied natural gas and coal, starting Feb. 10.

Key Details: The announcement is in retaliation to President Donald Trump's across-the-board tariffs on Chinese products. China also announced an antitrust investigation into Google.

Key Quote: “The U.S.’s unilateral tariff increase seriously violates the rules of the World Trade Organization,” China's State Council Tariff Commission said in a statement. “It is not only unhelpful in solving its own problems, but also damages normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S.”

For Context: China's government is planning to file a legal complaint with the World Trade Organization in response to Trumps' new tariffs on China. Many Chinese goods already face import taxes imposed during Trump's first term. Meanwhile, Mexico and Canada have struck deals with the Trump administration to delay imposing new tariffs on their countries.

How the Media Covered it: Sources across the political spectrum reported that the U.S. does not export much liquid natural gas to China, so the impact on U.S. exports may be limited. Many sources also reported that the U.S. would be impacted by China's announcement of export controls on critical minerals such as tungsten and tellurium, which are critical to the production of high-tech products.