China opposes US plan for additional 7.5% tariff on Chinese imports

China on Thursday opposed a US plan under consideration to impose an additional 7.5% tariff on imports from China, saying the move was an act of unilateralism and protectionism.

Commerce Ministry spokesperson Huang Ling said the United States launched the Section 301 investigations into 16 economies, including China, on the grounds of "overcapacity," which she said was an attempt to politicize trade and economic issues.

China would continue to closely monitor and comprehensively assess the US administration's next steps and reserves the right to take all necessary measures, Huang said.

China's Ministry of Commerce in July released a document titled "China's Position on the So-called Excess Capacity Issue" to clarify relevant facts and elaborate on China's policy stance on the so-called excess capacity issue.

The document said that the rapid development of China's modern industries is driven by innovation and that the stable and healthy operation of Chinese industries relies on the continuous deepening of reforms. (With input from Xinhua)