China is upset over President Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on U.S. imports of solar panels and washing machines.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry on Tuesday expressed “strong dissatisfaction” over the move, saying it “aggravates the global trade environment.”
The tariff of 30% on foreign solar panels is a blow for China, the world’s biggest supplier of the products. Beijing has been widely accused of heavily subsidizing its domestic solar industry and flooding global markets with cheap panels.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry called the U.S. investigation that led to the tariffs “an abuse” of the trade measures available to the Trump administration.
And with Trump expected to make big decisions on possible tariffs in other areas in the coming months, Beijing urged his administration to tread carefully.
“China hopes the U.S. will exercise restraint in using trade restrictions,” the ministry said in a statement, warning that it will “resolutely defend its legitimate interests.”
— Serenitie Wang contributed to this report.