China condemned the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump at a meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO), warning that such "tariff shocks" threaten to overturn the global trading system and could risk a global recession, "Reuters" reports.
Trump has announced sweeping 10% tariffs on all Chinese imports, prompting Beijing to respond with retaliatory tariffs and file a dispute against Washington at the WTO, which could be an early test of Trump's stance on the institution.
"These "tariff shocks" "They are increasing economic uncertainty, disrupting global trade and risking domestic inflation, market distortions or even a global recession," China's WTO ambassador Li Chenggang said at a closed-door meeting of the global trade body, according to a statement sent to Reuters.
"Even worse, the U.S. unilateral approach threatens to overturn the rules-based multilateral trading system."
The WTO discussion, which began late on Tuesday, is the first time the growing trade frictions will be formally addressed on the agenda of the watchdog's top decision-making body, the General Council.
It is unclear how other countries, including the United States, which still does not have a trade envoy in Geneva, have reacted.
Director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has so far urged the WTO's 166 members to refrain from retaliating in the event of tariffs to avoid "catastrophic" trade wars.
Trade delegates said before the meeting that they did not expect an immediate outcome from the meeting, but that the reactions of the parties could indicate the likelihood of an escalation of the trade wars in response to the planned US measures.
Some delegates saw China's call for a debate more as an effort to show that it respects WTO rules - a position that could help China win allies in the ongoing global trade negotiations.
"They want to appear reasonable and responsible and like the top student in the class," said one delegate, who was not authorized to speak publicly.
The disputes between the two leading economies at the WTO long predate Trump. Beijing accuses Washington of violating the rules, while Washington argues that Beijing does not deserve its "developing country" status, which entitles it to special treatment under WTO rules.
While the Trump administration has announced plans to withdraw from other global organizations, the WTO is still not a major focus for the White House.
However, the new U.S. Trade Representative, Jamieson Greer, has called the WTO "deeply flawed."