China vows retaliation to US tariffs via WTO lawsuit

China has condemned the latest round of U.S. tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, calling the measures “erroneous” and vowing to take countermeasures in response.

In a statement on Sunday, China’s Ministry of Commerce said it was “strongly dissatisfied” with the additional 10 percent tariffs announced by Washington on Saturday.

The ministry pledged to “resolutely safeguard our own rights and interests” and confirmed plans to file a lawsuit at the World Trade Organization (WTO), arguing that the U.S. tariffs “seriously violate WTO rules.”

Beijing further criticized the tariffs, calling them counterproductive and harmful to global trade. “The duties are not only unhelpful in solving the U.S.’s own problems but also undermine normal economic and trade cooperation,” the statement read.

China also aimed for Washington’s broader approach to trade negotiations, urging the U.S. to reassess its stance. “China hopes that the United States will objectively and rationally view and deal with its own issues like fentanyl, rather than threatening other countries with tariffs at every turn,” the ministry said.

In a separate statement, China’s Foreign Ministry warned that a continued escalation of tariffs would strain cooperation between the two nations. “There are no winners in a trade war or tariff war,” a ministry spokesperson said.

“The practice of imposing additional tariffs is not constructive and will inevitably affect and damage future bilateral cooperation on drug control.”