Just hours after China’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. energy imports took effect on Monday, a delegation of Chinese oil and gas executives traveled to Kazakhstan to seek new trade opportunities, according to a report by state broadcaster CCTV.
The executives were part of a broader business group led by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), a semi-official trade organization. The delegation, which included representatives from more than 30 companies across industries such as energy, petrochemicals, and industrial machinery, aimed to strengthen commercial ties, as reported by Yuyuan Tantian, a social media platform affiliated with CCTV.
CCPIT has announced plans to organize additional trade missions to facilitate Chinese businesses in exploring opportunities across the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, Africa, and other regions, with a focus on sectors like oil and gas, automotive, and agricultural machinery.
On Monday, Beijing implemented a 15% tariff increase on eight U.S. products, including coal and liquefied natural gas (LNG), while also raising tariffs by 10% on an additional 72 products, such as crude oil and agricultural machinery.
These actions form part of China’s broader countermeasures against Washington’s decision to impose a 10% tariff hike on all Chinese imports.
Amid escalating tensions with Western nations, China has been expanding its partnerships with emerging markets across Latin America, the Middle East, and beyond to diversify its export markets. As the world’s largest energy consumer, it is also securing alternative sources of energy imports to bolster its energy security.
Kazakhstan remains a key supplier of natural gas to China, with bilateral trade between the two nations reaching $43.8 billion in 2024—marking a 6.8% year-on-year increase, according to data from China Customs.
