A container ship docks at the Port of Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Xinhua]

China and the US have been making concrete progress in carrying out constructive negotiations in the fields of trade, investment and economic policies after the two countries' heads of state met in Florida in early April.

It will send a wrong signal to the world that launching a probe under Section 301 will affect US businesses' interests and global trade orders, the ministry said in a statement.

China will take appropriate measures to defend the country's lawful interests, and the US should respect the facts and act prudently, the ministry said.