By Enyichukwu Enemanna
China has officially written to the World Trade Organization (WTO), lodging a formal complaint against the United States’ decision to impose an additional 10 per cent tariff on Chinese goods, the country’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced on Tuesday.
The move aims to protect China’s legitimate rights and interests, an MOC spokesperson said, swiftly criticising the US action as a serious violation of WTO rules and an example of unilateralism and trade protectionism, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.
According to the spokesperson, the US imposition of additional tariffs on Chinese products has severely undermined the rules-based multilateral trading system, eroded the foundation of China-US economic and trade cooperation, and disrupted global industrial and supply chains.
Beijing has condemned Washington for prioritising unilateral measures over multilateral trade principles, a stance that has drawn widespread criticism from WTO members.
“China firmly opposes the US actions and urges the US side to immediately rectify its wrongdoings,” the spokesperson added.
China reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the multilateral trading system and pledged to work with other WTO members to counter the impact of trade protectionism.
“As a staunch supporter and significant contributor to the multilateral trading system, China will continue to safeguard the orderly and stable development of international trade,” the spokesperson concluded.
US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced sweeping measures against major trade partners, including Canada and Mexico, with goods from China facing an additional 10 per cent tariff.
Canada, China, and Mexico are the United States’ three biggest trading partners. Trump said the measures aimed to punish countries for failing to halt flows of illegal migrants and drugs, including fentanyl, into the United States.
On Monday, Trump suspended his tariff threat on Mexico and Canada at the last minute, agreeing to a 30-day pause in return for concessions on border and crime enforcement with the two neighbouring countries.
