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Thompson Hine LLP, a full-service business law firm with approximately 400 lawyers in 11 offices, was ranked number 1 in the category “Most innovative North American law firms: New working models” by The Financial Times and was 1 of 7 firms shortlisted for The American Lawyer’s inaugural Legal Services Innovation Award. The firm has been recognized by the National Law Journal as a Legal Technology Trailblazer and featured by Bloomberg for its innovative service delivery models, which drive accuracy and predictability. The firm’s commitment to innovation is embodied in Thompson Hine SmartPaTHTM – a smarter way to work – predictable, efficient and aligned with client goals. For more information, please visit ThompsonHine.com and ThompsonHine.com/SmartPaTH.

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On February 4, 2025, when U.S. tariffs on goods produced by China increased by 10% (see Thompson Hine Update of <a href="https://www.thompsonhinesmartrade.com/2025/02/president-trump-initiates-tariffs-on-canada-mexico-and-china-under-the-ieepa-tariffs-on-mexico-and-canada-suspended-until-march-1-but-tariffs-on-china-start-february-4/">February 3, 2025</a> and <a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-02-05/pdf/2025-02293.pdf">Federal Register Notice</a>), China responded by undertaking several retaliatory trade and tariff actions.&nbsp;These actions include:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Implementing a 15% tariff on U.S. coal and liquefied natural gas, and a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, cars and pickup trucks;</li>
<li>Establishing export controls on more critical minerals;</li>
<li>Adding two U.S. companies to its unreliable entities list; and</li>
<li>Initiating an antimonopoly investigation into Google.</li>
</ul>
The tariffs were announced by China&rsquo;s Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council and will begin on February 10, 2025.&nbsp;See China Ministry of Finance, <a href="http://www.mof.gov.cn/zhengwuxinxi/caizhengxinwen/202502/t20250204_3955222.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tariff Announcement No. 1 of 2025</a>. In announcing the tariffs, the Commission stated:&nbsp;&ldquo;The US&rsquo; unilateral practice of imposing such additional tariffs has seriously violated the World Trade Organization rules&rdquo; and, accordingly, China will challenge the most recent U.S. tariffs at the WTO.
China&rsquo;s Ministry of Commerce also imposed export controls on tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum and indium. While not implementing a full ban on the export of these critical minerals, China will now require licenses to export 20 of these critical mineral-related products to &ldquo;safeguard national security interests.&rdquo; See China Ministry of Commerce, <a href="https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/zwgk/zcfb/art/2025/art_e623090907fc4e1092f0a4db72f57b95.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Announcement No. 10 of 2025</a>.&nbsp;In addition, a U.S. clothing company and a biotechnology company were placed on China&rsquo;s Unreliable Entities List for &ldquo;violat[ing] the principle of normal market transactions, interrupt[ing] normal transactions with Chinese enterprises, and [taking] discriminatory measures against Chinese enterprises, seriously harming the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.&rdquo;&nbsp;See China Ministry of Commerce, Security and Control Directorate, <a href="https://aqygzj.mofcom.gov.cn/flzc/gzjgfxwj/art/2025/art_3341ae7fdd664c5bbd73261acff226f3.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Announcement 2025 No. 4</a>. Placement on this list can trigger various restrictive or prohibitive measures, including import/export or investment restrictions.&nbsp;China&rsquo;s State Administration for Market Regulation also announced that it was opening an antimonopoly investigation into a major U.S. technology company, Google.

China Announces Retaliatory Tariffs and Other Trade Actions Against the U.S.

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