China minister says US tariffs could trigger humanitarian crisis

Chinese Trade Minister Wang Wentao said the continuous introduction of tariffs by the US will cause great harm to the developing world and may even trigger a humanitarian crisis.

China's "decisive countermeasures" are to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, and to also uphold fairness and justice in the international community, Wang told Ngozi Okonjo, director-general of the World Trade Organization, in a video call on Friday. 

WTO members should unite to counter unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying practices with open cooperation and multilateralism, Wang was cited as saying in a Ministry of Commerce statement on Saturday. Least developed countries face some of the greatest risks from the US tariffs, he said.

Separately, Wang also held a video call with Geraldo Alckmin, Brazil's minister of development, industry, foreign trade and services. The two sides exchanged views on issues such as strengthening economic and trade cooperation between China and Brazil and responding to the tariffs imposed by the US, according to the commerce ministry.