China urges reversal of steep new US tariffs

China urged the United States on Friday to revoke its decision to impose immediate, steep tariffs on imports of foreign steel and aluminum products, which the Ministry of Commerce said would seriously disturb global trade.

China's move came after US President Donald Trump signed two proclamations on Thursday to levy a 25 percent tariff on steel and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum while offering potential exemptions for Canada and Mexico. Trump said the penalties may "go up or down depending on the country, and I'll have a right to drop out countries or add countries".

Wang Hejun, head of the trade remedy and investigation bureau of the Ministry of Commerce, said the US measures are in essence trade protectionism in the guise of national security. Most US steel and aluminum imports are for civil use and by no means impair US national security.