China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) expressed strong dissatisfaction regarding the US’s trade remedy measures on solar modules and large washing machines and urged the US to abide by the trade rules.

Wang Hejun, director of the MOFCOM Trade Relief Investigation Bureau, said in a statement that the hope is that the US will restrain its trade restrictions and abide by multilateral trade rules so as to play a positive role in promoting global economic growth. China, as a member of World Trade Organization (WTO), will join hands with other member states to safeguard its interests, the statement added.

The US has taken trade remedy measures on imported solar products and large washers in recent years in a bid to help or even overprotect its manufacturers, Wang pointed out. The stiff levies on all imported solar-energy components and washers was recently approved by the administration after a global investigation, and caused dissatisfaction from China.

This US investigation has raised concerns among its trade partners, and is also strongly opposed by local governments and downstream firms, said the director, adding that such restrictions arbitrarily imposed by Washington would hinder solar development in the US, as well as hit the trade environment across the globe.

The commerce ministry stressed that global economic recovery requires joint efforts from all countries, while frequent overprotection won’t help related industries but harm the balanced development of the economy.

US President Donald Trump approved the tariffs on imported solar-energy components and large washing machines on Jan. 22 local time, from which imported solar modules will face a stiff tariff of 30 percent, with the rate declining before phasing out after four years. Tariffs at up to 50 percent on large washing machines will start and phase out after three years, according to the Associated Press.