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China has opposed new United States (US) tariffs imposed on the country and 59 other nations, warning that the measures could trigger another trade conflict.
The US tariffs, which range between 10 and 12.5 per cent, were introduced over alleged forced labour concerns, with China receiving the highest rate.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian criticised the move during a press briefing on Friday, saying Beijing rejects unilateral tariff actions.
“We oppose all forms of unilateral tariff measures,” Lin said.
The new tariffs replace a global duty introduced earlier this year by US President Donald Trump’s administration.
The US Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, said Washington was enforcing a ban on goods linked to forced labour and urged other countries to take similar action.
Countries that have introduced forced labour restrictions, including Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom, received the lower 10 per cent tariff rate.
Other major trading partners, including India and Japan, were hit with the higher 12.5 per cent rate.
China and the US had previously been involved in a prolonged trade dispute before reaching a temporary truce after Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in October last year.
Following Trump’s visit to Beijing this year, China said both countries would work towards reducing tariffs. However, the latest measures have raised concerns of renewed trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
