China hits back with tariffs on US goods… and starts investigating Google

BEIJING (AP) — China’s Ministry of Commerce announced Tuesday that it is imposing counter-tariffs on several US products and launching an antitrust investigation into Google.

The government is placing a 15% tariff on coal and liquified natural gas, along with a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and large-displacement cars.

“The US’s unilateral tariff increase seriously violates WTO rules,” the statement said. “It does not help solve its own problems and damages normal trade relations between China and the US.”

Meanwhile, China’s market regulator has opened an investigation into Google over alleged antitrust violations. The announcement came just as President Trump’s 10% tariff on China was set to take effect.

Didn’t Google pull out of China? How much money do they even make there?

Corbin said:
Didn’t Google pull out of China? How much money do they even make there?

They don’t operate there, but Chinese companies still buy ads on Google to target users outside of China.

Corbin said:
Didn’t Google pull out of China? How much money do they even make there?

They still generate a few billion in revenue from China. A lot of it comes from advertising and Android, though Google Play isn’t part of that.

Corbin said:
Didn’t Google pull out of China? How much money do they even make there?

Wait, when did Google leave China? Why?

Sayer said:

Corbin said:
Didn’t Google pull out of China? How much money do they even make there?

Wait, when did Google leave China? Why?

Google search never officially launched in China because the government wanted it censored. Google refused and decided to stay out of the market. They still have some minor engineering and research operations there.

Sayer said:

Corbin said:
Didn’t Google pull out of China? How much money do they even make there?

Wait, when did Google leave China? Why?

Google China shut down about 15 years ago. They made another attempt with a censored search engine called Dragonfly about five years ago, but the project was scrapped after backlash.

Google’s revenue from China is estimated to be less than 3% of their total revenue.

Here we go again…

Google doesn’t even operate in mainland China. That’s like banning a restaurant that never opened in your city.

Shay said:
Google doesn’t even operate in mainland China. That’s like banning a restaurant that never opened in your city.

That’s exactly why they’re going after Google instead of Microsoft or Apple.

Shay said:
Google doesn’t even operate in mainland China. That’s like banning a restaurant that never opened in your city.

I’m banning you from my house. :joy:

This is mostly for show. The tariffs are on products they barely import anyway.

China investigating Google for antitrust could actually help Google in the US since they’re facing similar charges here.

Sam said:
China investigating Google for antitrust could actually help Google in the US since they’re facing similar charges here.

US regulators barely exist anymore. Unless it’s a money grab, then yeah, they show up.

@Marlow
I meant the various lawsuits coming from different US agencies and states.

China wasn’t buying much of this stuff anyway. This is just about sending a message.

If China slapped 100% tariffs on Teslas, that would definitely put the Trump/Musk bromance to the test.

This just hurts Chinese consumers. Higher tariffs mean they’ll pay more for things like oil and machinery. And an antitrust case against Google? That just seems like a political move.

Olen said:
This just hurts Chinese consumers. Higher tariffs mean they’ll pay more for things like oil and machinery. And an antitrust case against Google? That just seems like a political move.

Same thing is happening to US consumers with Trump’s tariffs.