China launches two probes into US trade practices

BEIJING – China’s Commerce Ministry has initiated two counter probes into US practices that hamper the flow of Chinese products into the US, it said on March 27, refraining from immediate retaliation to US measures announced earlier in March.

A trade truce between China and the US has held since US President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in October 2025. Mr Trump earlier this week said he will visit Beijing in mid-May, as part of Washington’s broader effort to reset relations in the Asia-Pacific region.

The two Chinese investigations – scheduled to conclude within six months, but that could be further extended – are in response to two US Section 301 investigations against China, the ministry said in a statement and described them as reciprocal.

The investigations will look into US trade practices and measures that “disrupt global supply and industrial chains” and “hinder trade in green products”, the ministry said in separate statements.

These practices and measures restrict or prohibit both the entry of Chinese products to the US and US exports of high-tech products to China, it said.

The US also implemented measures that limit the exports of green products from the US and slow down the deployment of new energy projects, which might harm Chinese companies’ interests, the ministry said.

Based on the findings of the investigations, China will take corresponding measures to defend its rights and interests, it said.

Earlier in March, the US launched two trade investigations into excess industrial capacity in 16 trading partners, including China, and into forced labour. During bilateral trade talks in Paris, China expressed concern about the investigations.

In talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of a World Trade Organization meeting in Cameroon on March 26, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao again expressed concern, but also said China was willing to strengthen economic and trade cooperation. REUTERS