US Launches Trade Probes into 16 Partners, Including China, Sparking Global Tensions

Published: Mar 14, 2026 14:59

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The US is expected to launch two new trade investigations into the “surplus industrial capacity” of 16 major trading partners, including China. According to officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the move could trigger new tariff measures. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun pointed out that the so-called “overcapacity” is utterly groundless, and that China firmly opposes using this as a pretext for political manipulation. Meanwhile, the European Commission also made its position clear: if the US takes actions that violate trade agreements, the EU will “respond firmly.”

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