China-led regional group calls for countering protectionist policies, sanctions

A China-led 10-state regional group criticized what it called protectionist trade measures on Wednesday, part of an intensifying standoff between Beijing and Western countries over tariffs on Chinese products.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a Eurasian security and political group, also hit out at "unilateral sanctions" as member states Iran and Russia face curbs on trade.

The criticism came in a joint statement, following a heads of government meeting of the SCO in Islamabad, signed by 10 countries, including China, Russia, Iran, India and host Pakistan.

The statement said that the 10 member states, represented by seven prime ministers, "consider it important to continue joint efforts to counter protectionist trade measures that are contrary to WTO rules."

The United States and Canada have increased tariffs on Chinese products such as electric vehicles, aluminum and steel, and the European Union is set to follow suit. Beijing has termed the moves discriminatory, and responded with similar actions as the standoff intensifies.

The SCO also said that "unilateral application of sanctions" is against international law and has an impact on third countries.

Russia and Iran, both members of the SCO, face sanctions from the West. Both possess some of the world's largest energy resources.

Sanctions have meant that smaller countries have shied away from trade with the two, even as larger more influential economies, such as China and India, continue to purchase energy from them.

Energy-starved Pakistan does not import gas or fuel from neighboring Iran despite its cost-effectiveness, and a gas pipeline between the two has stalled due to Islamabad fearing U.S. sanctions.

Earlier at the meeting, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif