Beijing, which set steep duties on canola, peas and pork, wants Canada and Mexico to resist U.S. pressure to raise tariffs on Chinese goods.

The tariffs add a new front to a trade war largely driven by Donald Trump's announcement of tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China and threats of protectionist measures on other nations.

The leaders of both Canada and Mexico got on the phone with President Donald Trump this past week to seek solutions after he slapped tariffs on their countries, but China’s president appears unlikely to make a similar call soon.