China is likely to adopt a comprehensive set of countermeasures — including export control on key minerals such as rare earth and tantalum, and launching anti-monopoly probes into certain companies, — in response to the latest expansive tariffs introduced by the US government, sources told China Daily.
These measures aim to address the economic impact while maintaining openness to dialogue should the US government demonstrate willingness to negotiate, added the sources who asked for anonymity.
Sources emphasized that China's approach may combine immediate, precision-targeted responses with broader, sustained frameworks to counter prolonged trade pressures.
A source said China has already tightened export controls on materials critical to US semiconductor manufacturing such as gallium and germanium.
"Stricter export control on more materials such as rare earth and tantalum can be an option," the source said.
Another source said China has a wide array of tools at its disposal, such as scrutinizing whether US companies qualify as civilian enterprises, assessing whether end-users are linked to military purposes, and halting exports of key minerals to unfriendly nations.
However, the sources emphasized that China is open to dialogue for sensible solutions to current trade tensions.
