China Silent On US Tariffs, Slams Trade Report

China has expressed "grave concern" about a US trade policy report that pledges to pressure Beijing, but had no immediate response to US President Donald Trump's plan to hike tariffs on steel and aluminum.

The Commerce Ministry said on Friday that Beijing has satisfied its trade obligations and appealed to Washington to settle disputes through negotiation

The ministry said China "expresses grave concern" about a US trade policy report issued on Thursday that accuses China of moving away from market principles and pledges to prevent Beijing from disrupting global trade.

However, there was no immediate response to Trump's announcement that he will increase duties on steel and aluminum imports. Officials have previously threatened to take "necessary measures" to defend China's interests.

Earlier, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump's decision to impose tariffs on imports "shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone."

Sanders says Trump has been talking about it "for decades." She says the president is acting out of concern about Americans "who have been forgotten."

Trump is planning penalties of 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on aluminum imports. The president says the tariffs will remain for "a long period of time."

Sanders declined to provide details on the tariffs, such as whether any US trading partners might be exempted from the penalties. (AP)