China Strikes Back with New Tariffs Amid U.S. Trade Dispute

China announced on Tuesday that it will impose additional tariffs on certain U.S. products starting March 10, following similar measures taken by Washington.

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order raising tariffs on Chinese imports from 10% to 20%, effective Tuesday.

In response, China’s State Council Tariff Commission stated that additional tariffs of 15% will be applied to U.S. chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton. Meanwhile, a 10% surcharge will be levied on sorghum, soybeans, pork, beef, seafood, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products imported from the United States.

China, the world’s largest buyer of American agricultural products, has also decided to place 15 U.S. companies on an export control list and file a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Among the targeted firms are Leidos (aerospace and IT), Gibbs & Cox (naval engineering), and several AI-focused companies such as Shield AI and Havoc AI. Drone manufacturers like Skydio and Red Six Solutions are also affected.

These countermeasures come as China kicks off its annual “Two Sessions” political gathering, the country’s most significant political event of the year.

Lou Qin Jian, spokesperson for the National People’s Congress, stressed that trade relations between China and the U.S. are beneficial to both nations, emphasizing that « the essence of economic and trade relations between China and the U.S. is mutual benefit. »