A trade war will not protect U.S. workers and will hurt U.S. consumers and global growth, China's Ministry of Commerce said Thursday.

China does not want escalating trade frictions with the United States, but is well prepared to take countermeasures to any further U.S. moves in the wrong direction, said Gao Feng, spokesperson with the MOC.

The United States should not misjudge the situation, and China has strong resolution to maintain reform and opening up as well as fight unilateralism and trade protectionism, Gao added.