"The global textile system has just entered its fourth month and the US side has implemented restrictions on Chinese textiles based on short-term and inaccurate statistics," Commerce Minister spokesman Chong Quan.

"This is beyond a doubt an extremely bad precedent and will seriously harm the multi-lateral trading system," he said in a statement on the ministry's website.

"The Chinese government reserves the right to take further measures within the WTO framework."

The United States on Friday ordered quotas to curb a flood of Chinese textile imports, four months after a global textile quota system was abandoned as part of efforts by the World Trade Organization to expand trade liberalization.