China's Commerce Ministry promised to take "firm countermeasures" against the newly announced "reciprocal tariffs" by US President Donald Trump, Global Times reported.
The ministry also urged Washington to cancel its unilateral tariff measures.
"A trade war has no winners, and protectionism is not a feasible option. China calls on the US to roll back these unilateral tariffs and resolve trade frictions with trading partners through talks," a ministry spokesman said, as cited by the Chinese state-run publication Global Times.
With mounting worldwide criticism, Trump called a national economic emergency and signed a comprehensive tariff policy with a minimum 10 percent rate for all imports while substantially increasing the rates on 60 select countries.
"China calls upon the United States to immediately roll back these one-sided tariff actions and enter into reasonable negotiations with its trading partners to settle differences," CNN cited the spokesperson.
The tariff regime involves high levies on several countries, including a 26 percent duty on India, 49 percent on Cambodia, 46 percent on Vietnam, 34 percent on China, 24 percent on Japan, and 20 percent on the European Union. US media reports that more than 180 countries and regions will be affected by these tariffs.
The US government defends the tariff increases on the grounds of economic losses to world trade and in favor of "reciprocity." However, according to the Chinese Commerce Ministry, this argument ignores the multi-year negotiated trade arrangements worked out and the huge gains the US has long enjoyed through world commerce.
"The so-called 'reciprocal tariffs,' which are made on the basis of unilateral and subjective judgment, are against international trade practices, violate the legitimate rights of trading partners, and represent unilateral economic coercion. Most of the affected countries have already expressed strong objection and discontent with these actions," the ministry spokesperson further stated.
Evidence throughout history indicates raising tariffs does not solve America's economic problems but instead hurts American companies while causing global supply chain and economic disruption, the official said to Global Times.
Trump's new notice imposes an added 34 percent tariff over existing 20 percent taxes on imports from China. Since returning to office in January, his regime has already had two rounds of 10 percent increases in the tariffs on imports from China. The White House has defended doing so as being part of trying to stem illicit fentanyl export from China into the US, CNN reported.
As a part of his 'Liberation Day' economic policy, Trump said, "I have tremendous respect for President Xi (Jinping) and for China, but they have been taking tremendous advantage of us." He went on further to say, "They know exactly what's going on. and they're going to fight."
The new tariff plan also aims at nations such as India, Brazil, Japan, and the European Union, among others.
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