BEIJING, Dec. 15 -- China said Tuesday it regretted a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling Monday that said a punitive United States tariff on Chinese tire imports is consistent with global trade rules.

China is deeply concerned about the effect the tariff has on the Chinese tire industry, said an unnamed official at the Treaty and Law Department of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

After careful study of the report, China will file a complaint to safeguard the legitimate rights of the nation's tire makers and exporters, the official added.

On Sept 11, 2009, the US announced punitive tariffs of up to 35 percent on all Chinese car and light-truck tire imports in an attempt to "remedy the clear disruption to the US tire industry."

On Sept 14, 2009, China requested consultations with the United States on the issue, calling the tariffs inconsistent with WTO rules and US obligations under China's Accession Protocol.