CHINA will use all necessary means to defend the interests of the country and its companies against a U.S. trade investigation, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday.

The ministry Monday expressed “strong dissatisfaction” with the U.S. launch of the probe into China’s alleged theft of U.S. intellectual property, calling it “irresponsible.”

The probe is the Trump administration’s first direct measure against Chinese trade practices, which the White House and U.S. business groups say are bruising American industry.

“We will take all the necessary measures to resolutely defend the interests of China and Chinese firms” in the face of the unilateral U.S. actions, said Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng.

Gao said that the two nations have more shared interests than disputes and stressed that cooperation is the best way to address any differences.

“The U.S. investigation of China based on domestic laws sabotages the existing international trading system, and has poured cold water on all parties that have been working to promote bilateral economic ties,” Gao said.

Trade tensions between the world’s two biggest economies have showed signs of heating up after a short honeymoon period.

Earlier this week, the United States asked the World Trade Organization to set up a dispute settlement panel to examine China’s administration of tariff rate quotas on agricultural products including wheat, rice and corn, which could force the Asian nation to change its policies or face retaliation in the scenario of a U.S. victory.

China expressed regret at the U.S. decision to move forward with the case, and will properly address the issue under the WTO rules, said Gao.

(SD-Agencies)