The tariffs “do not comply with international trade rules”, China’s Commerce Ministry said.
It urged Washington to “immediately cancel” them, warning they “endanger global economic development”.
The tariffs are a “major blow to the world economy”, warned EU chief Ursula von der Leyen.
“There seems to be no order in the disorder. No clear path through the complexity and chaos that is being created as all US trading partners are hit,” she said.
After the 20pc tariffs on EU exports to the United States, she said Brussels was “preparing for further countermeasures” but added it was “not too late to address concerns through negotiations”.
The German Automotive Industry Association said the tariffs would “only create losers” and urged the EU to act “with necessary force, while continuing to signal its willingness to negotiate”.
The German chemical industry, which counts the United States as its largest export market, urged the EU to “keep a cool head”, stressing “an escalation would only worsen the damage”.
Ajay Sahai, chief executive of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations, told AFP the tariffs will “hurt demand” for its exports.
“The tariffs slapped on India are definitely both high and higher than expected,” he said.
But he said competitor nations like China and Vietnam had been hit harder, which opened up space for India to gain a market share.
The UK will “remain calm, and committed” to sealing a trade deal with the United States which could help “mitigate” a 10pc tariff imposed on British exports to the United States, business minister Jonathan Reynolds said.
However, “we have a range of tools at our disposal and we will not hesitate to act”, he added.
Bangladeshi textile industry leaders said that US tariffs posed a “massive blow” to the world’s second-largest garment manufacturer, which accounts for some 80pc of the South Asian nation’s exports.
“Buyers will go to other cost-competitive markets — this is going to be a massive blow for our industry,” said Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, chairman of RDM Group, a major manufacturer with an estimated $25 million turnover. “We will lose buyers.”
