The U.S. and China are embroiled in a trade row after Beijing accused Washington of “rampant protectionism” for imposing heavy duties on imported Chinese tyres and threatened action against imports of U.S. poultry and vehicles. Trade relations between two of the world’s biggest economies deteriorated after president Barack Obama, signed an order late on Friday to impose a new duty of 35 per cent on Chinese tyre imports on top of an existing 4 percent tariff, said the Financial Times. Obama has sided with America’s trade unions, which have complained that a “surge” in imports of Chinese-made tyres had caused 7,000 job losses among U.S. factory workers. Chen Deming, China’s minister of commerce, condemned the decision, saying that it “sends the wrong signal to the world” at a time when Washington and Beijing should be co-operating to deal with the worst economic and financial crisis in decades. “This is a grave act of trade protectionism,” Chen said. “Not only does it violate WTO rules, it contravenes commitments the United States government made at the G20 financial summit.” China said it would investigate imports of U.S. poultry and vehicles, responding to domestic complaints. The U.S. has warned Beijing against taking retaliatory action. “Retaliation would be inappropriate, as the United States acted entirely within the bounds of trade laws and within the safeguard provision that China itself agreed to upon accession to the World Trade Organisation,” said an official from the Office of the United States Trade Representative.