On March 1 (Washington Time), the US President Trump announced that the imported steel and aluminum products have severely impaired the US domestic industry and threatened US national security, to reinvigorate US steel and aluminum industry, the US decides to levy tax on all imported steel and aluminum products with a tax rate of 25% and 10% respectively. Head of MOFCOM Trade Remedy and Investigation Bureau Wang Hejun commented on it.

Wang Hejun said most of the imported steel and aluminum products were low and medium-end products for civil use and they did not impair the US national security. To restrict the trade of steel and aluminum products with the excuse of national security will severely destroy the multilateral trading system represented by the WTO and is sure to impact on normal international orders. The US measures have been objected by countries and regions like the EU, Canada, Brazil and ROK.

Wang Hejun hoped that the US could respect the multilateral trading system, jointly protect the normal international trade orders with all countries and consolidate the basis of world economy recovery. If the US measures impair the interests, China will join efforts with other affected countries to safeguard its own benefits.