China will file a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and take other retaliatory measures against the new tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on its goods, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Sunday. According to the statement, Beijing views Washington’s unilateral tariff hike as a “serious violation” of WTO rules.
Trump announced new tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada on Saturday, citing concerns over the failure of the three countries to curb the flow of immigrants and illegal drugs, such as fentanyl, into the U.S. To increase the tariffs, Trump declared a national economic emergency, invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which authorizes the president to unilaterally manage imports.
The tariffs, which are set to take effect on February 4, will impose a 25% tax on all imports from Mexico and most goods from Canada, as well as a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. According to a fact sheet published by the White House, the tariffs will remain in place with no exceptions “until the crisis is mitigated.”
China’s Ministry of Commerce said Beijing was “very dissatisfied” with Washington’s actions and “strongly opposes” them.
“This is not only ineffective in solving Washington’s own problems, but also undermines normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the U.S.,” the ministry said, adding that Beijing “will take appropriate countermeasures to firmly protect its rights and interests,” without providing details. It further stated that the U.S. should “look at its problems objectively and rationally,” such as illegal drug imports, instead of “threatening other countries with tariffs.”
The ministry stated that China will file an official complaint against the new tariffs with the WTO, which has legal authority to allow a country affected by another country’s tariffs to respond with its own. Since both the U.S. and China are members of the WTO, they are required to abide by its decisions when in dispute.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the tariffs “counterproductive,” warning that this could reignite a trade war.
“China’s position is firm and consistent. Trade and tariff wars have no winners… This action will not solve the U.S.’s domestic problems and, more importantly, does not benefit either side, let alone the world,” the ministry said in a statement late Saturday.
