China's commerce ministry said on Friday that Chinese government strongly opposes the United States' proposed duties on Chinese tires, as such a move could be a sign of trade protectionism.

China is "highly concerned" about the tariff remedy plan on Chinese tires recommended by the US International Trade Commission (ITC), said the ministry in a statement on its Web site, citing unnamed sources with Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports under the ministry.

Members of ITC suggested Monday that the US should impose 35 to 55 percent duties in the next three years on certain Chinese passenger vehicles and light truck tires as the imports of such products would cause or threaten to cause market disruption to the domestic producers of like or competitive products.

The recommendation has been "unreasonable and lacks of objective evidences", said the statement, adding that such action would baffle tire trade between China and the US, and in turn harm the interests of American tire consumers.

The statement says that Chinese-made tires did not cause direct competition with the US products. Restriction on Chinese imports can not fix the structural problem in the US, it said.

The Chinese government would urge the US not to take such protective measure, which would "send a wrong signal of trade protectionism," said the statement.

(Xinhua News Agency July 4, 2009)