BEIJING - China's Ministry of Commerce on Wednesday urged the United States to act prudently in the use of trade remedy measures.

This came after the US Commerce Department announced on Tuesday open investigations into possible dumping and subsidization of tool chest imports from China and Vietnam.

China always opposed the abuse of trade remedy measures. "Excessive trade protectionism will not ease the so-called industrial damage alleged by the US petitioners, while import restrictions will be harmful to US importers and downstream industries, affecting US employment and consumers," said Wang Hejun, head of the trade remedy and investigation bureau at the ministry.

Wang said a stable and predictable trade environment between China and the United States is of great importance to the two countries and international trade order, urging the two countries to settle disputes via negotiations.