US tariffs will 'hurt world trade prospects'

The nation will take active measures to confront challenges from trade investigations launched by the United States and firmly defend its manufacturers' interests, a senior commerce official said in a statement released on Wednesday.

Vice-Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen said that the Section 232 and 301 investigations initiated by the US are unilateral trade protectionist practices. Adopting related trade restrictions will not only damage the international trade order, but will also cause serious damage to the multilateral global trading system.

"The trade war will only generate losers and negative impact on global trade and the world economy," Wang, who also is China's deputy international trade representative, said in a speech during the informal World Trade Organization's ministerial meeting in New Delhi from March 19 to 20, according to the Ministry of Commerce.