BEIJING/WASHINGTON - China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes the US decision to impose an additional 10 percent tariff on goods imported from China, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Sunday.

In response to the erroneous action by the United States, China will file a complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) and take corresponding countermeasures to firmly safeguard its rights and interests, an MOC spokesperson said in a statement.

The US unilateral imposition of extra tariff seriously violates WTO rules, the spokesperson said, noting that this move would not only fail to resolve its own problems but also disrupt normal economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

READ MORE: Trudeau: Canada ready for Trump tariffs

China urges the US side to view and address its fentanyl and related issues objectively and rationally, rather than frequently using tariffs to threaten other countries, according to the statement.

The US side should correct its mistakes and work with China to meet each other halfway, the spokesperson noted, calling on the United States to face problems directly, engage in candid dialogues, strengthen cooperation, and manage differences on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect.

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday to impose a 10 percent tariff on goods imported from China, the latest US trade protectionist measure which has drawn widespread opposition both domestically and internationally.

The White House said the 10 percent tariff is on all imports from China on top of existing tariffs. Trump says the tariffs dovetail with his embrace of protectionist measures.

ALSO READ: Lula: Brazil to respond if US imposes tariffs on Brazilian products

According to the executive order, the United States also imposed a 25 percent tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada. For energy products from Canada, the administration imposed a 10 percent tariff. 

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Sunday said China firmly deplores and opposes the US decision and will take necessary countermeasures to defend its legitimate rights and interests.

"China's position is firm and consistent. There is no winner in trade and tariff wars," the spokesperson stressed, adding that the US unilateral tariff hikes severely violate WTO rules. This move cannot solve the US problems at home and more importantly, does not benefit either side, still less the world.

According to the spokesperson, China is one of the world's toughest countries on counternarcotics both in terms of policy and its implementation. Fentanyl is an issue for the United States. In the spirit of humanity and goodwill, China has given support to the United States in its response to this issue.

At the request of the US side, China announced back in 2019 the decision to officially schedule fentanyl-related substances as a class. China is the first country in the world to do so, the spokesperson said, adding that China has engaged in extensive counternarcotics cooperation with the US side. "The achievements we have made are there for all to see."

READ MORE: Wang Yi: China, US should find right way to get along in new era

The United States needs to view and solve its own fentanyl issue in an objective and rational way instead of threatening other countries with arbitrary tariff hikes. Additional tariffs are not constructive and are bound to affect and harm the counternarcotics cooperation between the two sides in the future, the spokesperson said.

"China calls on the United States to correct its wrongdoings, maintain the hard-won positive dynamics in the counternarcotics cooperation, and promote a steady, sound and sustainable development of China-US relationship," the spokesperson said.