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21:55, 17-Feb-2018
China: US report on steel, aluminum imports ‘groundless’
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China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) Saturday criticized a US government report on steel and aluminum product imports, saying the findings were "groundless" and do not tally with the facts.
The US Department of Commerce Friday recommended that President Donald Trump restrict imports of steel and aluminum products by imposing steep tariffs, citing national security concerns.
In a response to the report, Wang Hejun, head of MOC's trade remedy and investigation bureau, urged the US to exercise restraint in using trade protection tools, and observe multilateral rules to make positive contributions to global economic and trade order.
"If the United States' final decision affects China's interests, we will take necessary measures to defend our rights," Wang said.
The recommendations from the US Department of Commerce call for Trump to take action under a rarely used provision of US trade law that authorizes tariffs if imports endanger national security, Washington Post reported on Friday, noting such trade taxes may prompt legal challenges at the World Trade Organization and retaliation by US trading partners.
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency