China published its 2026 tariff plan this week, outlining new rates for hundreds of commodities while lowering duties on other items, the country's Ministry of Finance said Dec. 29, according to an unofficial translation.

Beijing is ordering its chipmakers to use at least 50% domestically made equipment for adding new semiconductor capacity as part of a push to build a self-sufficient semiconductor supply chain, Reuters reported Dec. 30. Chinese chipmakers seeking approval to build or expand their chip plants have been told in recent months that they "must prove through procurement tenders that at least half their equipment will be Chinese-made," the report said. The directive is forcing Chinese manufacturers to choose domestic suppliers "even in areas where foreign equipment from the U.S., Japan, South Korea and Europe remain available."

China on Dec. 26 sanctioned 20 U.S. defense firms and 10 executives in response to the State Department's approval of a host of arms sales to Taiwan earlier this month (see 2512180008). The designations target several major defense contractors, their subsidiaries and their senior employees, including Northrop Grumman Systems, L3 Harris Marine Services, Boeing, Sierra Technical Services, Red Cat Holdings and others. The sanctions block their assets in China and prohibit them from carrying out transactions with people or companies in China.

China adopted revisions to its Foreign Trade Law on Dec. 27, the Ministry of Commerce said, according to an unofficial translation. The revisions, effective March 1, include strengthened intellectual property protection measures and new language to "enhance the compliance and risk response capabilities of foreign trade operators regarding intellectual property rights," according to state-run news outlet Xinhua. "The revision also enriches and improves China's legal toolkit on struggles in foreign trade arena, and supplements and refines corresponding countermeasures."

Beijing last week criticized the Dec. 20 U.S. seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela (see 2512220044), calling it arbitrary and a violation of international law. "China stands against unilateral illicit sanctions that lack basis in international law or authorization of the UN Security Council, and against any move that violates the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, infringes upon other countries’ sovereignty and security, and constitutes unilateralism and bullying," a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in response to a reporter's question during a regular press conference. "Venezuela has the right to independently develop mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries. We believe Venezuela’s position of defending its legitimate rights and interests has the understanding and support of the international community."

South Korean prosecutors have charged multiple former Samsung employees with leaking sensitive advanced computing technology to Chinese semiconductor company ChangXin Memory Technologies, an alleged violation of the country’s Industrial Technology Protection Act, Korean newspaper The Chosun reported Dec. 24.

China will take “corresponding measures” if the U.S. “continues down the wrong path” by imposing Section 301 tariffs on semiconductors, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during a regular press conference Dec. 24 in Beijing.

China's Ministry of Commerce said the country has filed a request for consultations at the World Trade Organization over Indian tariffs on information and communication technology products and photovoltaic subsidy measures. China submitted the request Dec. 19, a ministry spokesperson said, adding that it suspects the duties and subsidies violate "several WTO obligations, including binding tariffs and national treatment, and constitute import substitution subsidies, which are expressly prohibited by the WTO."

China has approved certain export license applications submitted by Chinese companies for shipments of controlled rare earths, a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said Dec. 18.

Beijing this week sanctioned former Japanese senior military official Shigeru Iwasaki for accepting a role as a "political consultant" for the Taiwanese government, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Dec. 15 at a press conference. Iwasaki is "colluding with 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and making provocations," the spokesperson said during a regular daily meeting with reporters. "This amounts to a severe violation of the one-China principle and the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, a blatant interference in China’s internal affairs, and a grave infringement on China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity." China designated Iwasaki under its Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, which freezes any assets he may hold in China, blocks Chinese organizations and people from carrying out transactions with him, and more.