The White House has confirmed that it is closely monitoring a complaint filed by China with the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding new U.S. tariffs, as reported by Voice of America.
China accuses the U.S. of using “unfounded and false allegations” about its role in the fentanyl trade as a justification for imposing trade restrictions. This complaint follows the U.S. decision to raise tariffs on Chinese goods by 10%, a move that President Donald Trump stated was intended to reduce the flow of fentanyl opioids and precursor chemicals from China.
In retaliation, China announced countermeasures, including a 15% tariff on coal and natural gas imports and a 10% tariff on petroleum, agricultural equipment, high-emission vehicles, and pickup trucks. Additionally, Beijing implemented immediate restrictions on exports of certain critical minerals and launched an antitrust investigation into U.S. tech giant Google.
In its WTO filing, China referred to the U.S. tariff measures as “discriminatory and protectionist,” claiming that they violate international trade regulations. Beijing has officially requested consultations with Washington, initiating a legal process within the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism.
