AKIPRESS.COM - Beijing will take countermeasures to protect its rights and interests in response to the US raising customs tariffs on its goods, China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement, Tass reports.

"China is extremely displeased, expresses resolute protest and will take countermeasures to firmly protect its rights and interests," the ministry said.

The ministry reiterated that unilateral tariffs violate the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and undermine the multilateral trade system, thus "damaging both trade and economic cooperation between China and the US as well as regular international trade."

Earlier, US President Donald Trump confirmed that his administration is introducing new tariffs on Canadian and Mexican products. He also signed an executive order doubling tariffs on Chinese imports from 10% to 20%, because, according to the White House, China has not taken any steps to restrict fentanyl supplies to the US.