China has denounced the new US tariffs, saying they would profoundly harm international trade. Wang Hejun, head of the trade remedy and investigation bureau at the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, says the tariffs are the embodiment of trade protectionism in the name of national security. And it will lead to, what the official describes as, "a serious attack on the normal international trade order".

Wang says China has noticed the strong opposition from many WTO members, including the EU and Brazil. He says China will take counter measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. Wang also urges the US to respect the multilateral trading system and withdraw relevant measures as soon as possible.