WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has imposed new punitive tariffs on all car and light truck tires coming into the U.S. from China, a move Beijing condemned Saturday as protectionism and a violation of the guidelines of global trade.

While the White House announcement late Friday is likely to placate union supporters important to the president's health care push at home, it could alienate the strategically important Asian powerhouse.

Chen Deming, China's minister of commerce, said the Chinese government strongly opposed the tariffs, calling them a case of protectionism that will harm China-U.S. trade relations.

He said the U.S. had broken its promise at the G-20 summit and the action violated World Trade Organization rules.

"Recently, America and China have held talks many times at different levels, but what America demands is too high, so both sides have not reached an agreement, which China regrets," he said.

The United Steelworkers blames the increase for the loss of thousands of American jobs.

The federal trade panel recommended a 55 percent tariff in the first year, 45 percent in the second year and 35 percent in the third year. Obama settled on slightly lower penalties — an extra 35 percent in the first year, 30 percent in the second, and 25 percent in the third, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said