- China’s State Administration for Market Regulation launched an antitrust investigation into Google over alleged monopolistic practices.
- China imposed a 15% tariff on U.S. coal and liquefied natural gas, and a 10% tariff on oil and agricultural equipment.
China has launched an antitrust investigation into Google in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent imposition of a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. The probe, announced on Tuesday by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, will assess whether the American tech giant engaged in monopolistic practices within China.
Google’s search and internet services have been blocked in China since 2010, but the company maintains advertising operations within the country. The investigation signals Beijing’s aggressive stance against U.S. tech firms amid escalating trade tensions.
“Because 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,” read the administration’s statement in its English-translated version.
In addition to targeting Google, China responded to Trump’s tariffs by imposing its own levies. U.S. coal and liquefied natural gas exports now face a 15% tariff, while oil and agricultural equipment imports from the U.S. are subjected to a 10% tariff. Further measures included adding Calvin Klein owner PVH Corp. and gene sequencing company Illumina to a restricted entities list and implementing new export controls on tungsten-related materials.
Trump justified his tariffs as a response to China’s failure to curb the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. However, the move has reignited trade tensions between the two largest economies, undermining hopes for a stable resolution.
With China now countering with regulatory scrutiny on a major U.S. tech company, the latest developments indicate a deepening economic standoff between Washington and Beijing.
Edited by Harshajit Sarmah
