China imposes fresh tariffs on US imports

China will impose additional tariffs on imports from the United States like coal and liquefied natural gas among others, starting from Feb 10, the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council announced on Tuesday.

A 15-percent tariff will be added to coal and LNG, while a 10-percent tariff will be imposed on crude oil, agricultural machinery, large-displacement automobiles and pickup trucks, the commission said in a statement on the website of the Ministry of Finance.

The commission justified the new tariffs as in accordance with Chinese laws on tariffs, customs and foreign trade, as well as basic principles of international laws. This move follows the US' decision to levy an additional 10 percent tariff on imports from China effective Feb 1.

The US' unilateral practice of imposing such additional tariffs has seriously violated the World Trade Organization rules, the commission said, adding that the US' move not only fails to address its own problems but also damages the normal economic and trade cooperation between China and the US.