• China announced a series of retaliatory measures against the U.S. on Tuesday after new U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods took effect, escalating trade tensions. The finance ministry said it will impose 15% tariffs on U.S. coal and liquified natural gas and 10% duties on crude oil, agricultural machinery, and certain vehicles starting Feb. 10. Additionally, China’s State Administration of Market Regulation launched an anti-monopoly investigation into Google, despite the company pulling its search services from China in 2010. Meanwhile, the Chinese offshore yuan remained stable, and mainland markets are set to reopen Wednesday after the Lunar New Year holiday.

• China also announced export controls on critical minerals like tungsten, tellurium, and molybdenum, further tightening trade restrictions. Analysts suggest these moves are a strategic warning to the U.S., with the possibility of tariffs being postponed before implementation. However, concerns of a broader trade war remain high, as experts see a strong likelihood of further tariff escalations from both sides. While U.S. President Donald Trump granted Canada and Mexico a 30-day tariff pause over fentanyl-related agreements, China received no such relief, underscoring the complexity of U.S.-China trade tensions compared to North American negotiations.