China files complaint with WTO against US tariff increase

China has filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement mechanism to defend its legitimate rights and interests, the Ministry of Commerce said on Tuesday, following the United States announcement of a 10 percent additional tariff on goods from China.

The Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that the move seriously violates WTO rules, and is a typical practice of unilateralism and trade protectionism. The action of the US seriously damages the rules-based multilateral trading system, undermines the foundation of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, and disrupts the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

"The US has repeatedly used unilateralism over multilateralism, which has been strongly condemned by a large number of WTO members. China firmly opposes the US approach and urges the US to immediately correct its wrong practices," the commerce ministry said in a statement.

China, a firm supporter and important contributor to the multilateral trading system, expressed its commitment to working with other WTO members to jointly address the challenges of unilateralism and trade protectionism to the multilateral trading system, and maintain the orderly and stable development of international trade, the commerce ministry said.

zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn