BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhua) -- China doesn't want a trade war with the United States and will not start one, but can handle any related challenges and will defend national and Chinese people's interests, Chinese commerce minister said Sunday.

Trade wars leave no winners, only disastrous outcomes for the two countries and the rest of the world, Zhong Shan, head of the Ministry of Commerce, told a press conference on the sidelines of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress.

The United States side formally declared to impose 25 percent tariffs on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum Thursday, with initial exemptions for Canada and Mexico, saying such results could be made for other countries through negotiations.