China warns of a backlash to US protectionism

China warned of a potential backlash if the US did not abandon unilateralism and trade protectionism, Chinese Ministry of Commerce reiterated on Thursday.

Gao Feng, China's commerce ministry spokesperson, made the remarks during a regular briefing in response to reports that US President Donald Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods may not be imposed until early June.

US must stop its actions against the WTO rules, which is a kind of "typical trade protectionism", said Gao, adding that the US should take measures and resolve conflicts with China through negotiations and dialogue.

Last week, Trump signed a memorandum that could impose tariffs on up to 60 billion US dollars worth of imports from China, a unilateral move that threatens the status quo of global trade.

When talking about the trade war between the two countries, Gao said China doesn't want a trade war with the US, but it is confident in countering any trade and investment protectionist steps and will take all possible measures to protect its own interests.

(CGTN)