Олексій Дзюба Hot News 4 February 2025, 10:20

China responds to US tariffs with investigation into Google. The company's search engine has been blocked in China since 2010

China has launched an antitrust investigation against an American tech giant.

China responded to US tariffs with new tariffs and an investigation against Google, writes TechCrunch.

China has launched an antitrust investigation against Google, part of a swift retaliation after US President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese goods.

The investigation, conducted by China's State Administration for Market Regulation, will examine the monopolistic actions of the American technology giant, whose search and Internet services have been blocked in China since 2010. At that time, Google refused to self-censor search results, which was demanded by the Chinese government. In response, China completely blocked Google through the "Great Firewall of China". Most of Google's services (Gmail, YouTube, Google Drive, Google Play) are also unavailable in the PRC.

Meanwhile, the American company continues to operate in China, focusing mainly on advertising Chinese companies abroad. Chinese phone makers also widely use its Android operating system.

“Since Google is suspected of violating the antitrust 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,” the administration said in a statement.

Also among the Chinese measures are a 15% tariff on American coal and liquefied natural gas, and another 10% tariff on oil and agricultural machinery from the US. The PRC is also introducing export controls on goods related to tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum, and indium.

Recall that the US imposed a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico on February 1, as well as a 10% tariff on goods from China. Last year, these three countries accounted for 40% of imports to the US. Subsequently, the US suspended the introduction of tariffs on Canadian goods and Mexican goods for a month. The leaders of the countries agreed that Mexico would send 10,000 soldiers to the border with the States, who would primarily stop the flow of fentanyl and illegal migrants into the US. Canada promised to strengthen border control and invest more in the fight against drug cartels.