China launches WTO dispute consultation with EU, U.S. over anti-dumping duties
by Jamey Keaten, The Associated Press
Beijing has been working to establish itself as a market economy under the WTO framework, but U.S., EU say "serious imbalances" in China's state-directed economy remain
GENEVA—China has taken action through the World Trade Organization accusing the United States and the European Union of failing to comply with the trade body’s anti-dumping agreement.
The Geneva-based body said Dec. 12 that China had informed the WTO it was seeking “dispute consultations” with the U.S. and EU over the way the bloc and the U.S. make calculations in anti-dumping disputes.
It did not elaborate, and China’s mission in Geneva didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
When the Asian country joined the WTO in 2011 it accepted harsher anti-dumping duties than other countries for a period of 15 years because it was not a market economy. With that time period now elapsed, China wants to be automatically recognized as a market economy under the WTO framework. Washington and the European trade bloc U.S. have pushed back against that outcome, however.
The U.S. trade representative’s office said the United States remains concerned about “serious imbalances” in China’s state-directed economy, including in the steel and aluminum industries.
It said the U.S. would protect American workers and companies “from the damaging effects of persistent distortions in the Chinese economy.”
—Paul Wiseman contributed from Washington
