Stung by Washington’s move, the China Iron and Steel Association and the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association has urged the country’s government to respond in kind by ramping up import levies on US steel, coal, agricultural products, consumer electronics, recycled aluminum and luxury consumer goods, the South China Morning Post wrote.
“Trump’s behavior is a challenge to the global steel industry and will definitely encounter opposition from more countries,” The China Iron and Steel Association said in a statement.
Wang Hejun, head of the trade remedy and investigation bureau at China’s Ministry of Commerce, slammed Washington’s move as trade protectionism under the guise of national security.
He warned that China will take “forceful measures” to defend its interests.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi lashed back on Thursday by saying that the US was using the “wrong remedy” to tackle trade disputes and threatened retaliation.
Donald Trump has repeatedly accused China’s trade policy of unfairly penalizing US companies thus ramping up America’s trade deficit with the People’s Republic.
The tariffs set to take effect in 15 days, reflect Donald Trump’s stated desire to support US industries against foreign competition. However, they are a step back from his earlier promise to impose sweeping tariffs that would have hit US allies and rivals alike, The Washington Post wrote.
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The tariffs contain an initial exemption for Canada and Mexico and open the door to exemptions for other allies as well, provided that they change their trade policies with the United States.
Briefing reporters at the White House on Thursday, President Donald Trump argued that increased tariffs were necessary to protect national security and stop the “decimation” of American communities.
