China says it reserves the right to hit back if US imposes tariffs on steel

American steel companies and steelworker unions have been pushing Trump to follow through on his promise to protect the industry

China said proposed US tariffs on imported steel and aluminum products are groundless and that it reserves the right to retaliate if they are imposed.

The US recommendations, unveiled by the Commerce Department on Friday, aren’t consistent with the facts, Wang Hejun, chief of the trade remedy and investigation bureau at China’s Ministry of Commerce, said in a statement posted on its website.
 

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the US may impose quotas on imports of aluminum and steel, including a tariff of at least 24 percent on steel imports from all countries. While it’s the strongest indication yet that