British News Agency

China’s finance and commerce ministries announced that Beijing would challenge Trump’s tariffs at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and take unspecified "countermeasures" in response to the tax set to take effect on Tuesday.

China avoided the sharp escalation seen in Trump’s first term trade confrontations and reiterated a more measured tone that it has adopted in recent weeks.

On Saturday, Trump ordered a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tariff on goods from China, saying that Beijing must stop the flow of fentanyl, a deadly opioid, into the U.S.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that Trump’s move "seriously violates international trade rules" and called on the U.S. to "engage in open dialogue and strengthen cooperation."

Filing a case at the WTO would largely be a symbolic move, similar to Beijing’s response to EU tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that Beijing believes there are no winners in a trade war.

China’s strongest response on Sunday was regarding fentanyl, an issue on which even President Joe Biden’s administration has urged Beijing to restrict shipments of Chinese-made precursor chemicals used to manufacture the drug.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated: "Fentanyl is America’s problem. China has engaged in extensive anti-drug cooperation with the U.S. and achieved significant results."