China Seeks Energy Trade with Kazakhstan After U.S. Tariff Response

A Chinese delegation of energy industry leaders visited Kazakhstan shortly after Beijing announced new tariffs on U.S. energy imports, Orda.kz reports, citing the South China Morning Post.

China imposed 15% tariffs on eight U.S. products, including coal and LNG, and 10% on 72 other items, including crude oil and agricultural equipment.

This comes in response to Washington's 10% tariff increase on Chinese imports.

The delegation, representing the China Council for International Trade and over 30 companies, arrived in Kazakhstan to explore trade opportunities as China seeks to diversify its energy suppliers.

While China plans partnerships with Latin American and Middle Eastern nations, Kazakhstan was its first diplomatic stop after the tariff announcement.

As the world’s biggest energy buyer, China is also diversifying its import sources to shore up its energy security. Kazakhstan is among its main natural gas suppliers. Bilateral trade between China and Kazakhstan hit US$43.8 billion in 2024, an increase of 6.8 per cent year on year, according to data from China Customs., the South China Morning Post writes.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny