China opposes possible US tariffs over so-called 'overcapacity'

China's Ministry of Commerce has described the United States' invocation of "overcapacity" as merely a pretext for the imposition of unilateral tariffs amid reports that Washington was considering an additional 7.5 percent tariff on Chinese goods.

In March, Washington launched investigations based on Section 301 of its 1974 Trade Act against 16 economies, including China, over what it called structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors.

According to Ministry of Commerce spokeswoman Huang Ling, the investigations politicize economic and trade issues, and represent a typical act of unilateralism and protectionism.

"We will continue to closely monitor and comprehensively assess any follow-up measures by the US, and reserve the right to take all necessary measures," Huang said at a news conference on Thursday.

The commerce ministry released a document last month titled "China's Position on the So-called Excess Capacity Issue", which calls for a comprehensive, objective and fair view of capacity issues and warning that protectionism would pose long-term risks to global growth.