US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on US$250 billion of Chinese goods to be investigated by WTO
- China’s dispute alleges the tariffs violate a World Trade Organisation provision as the measures fail to provide the same treatment to imports from all other members
- Investigation comes at a delicate moment between the world’s two largest economies as a new round of trade talks are expected to begin on Wednesday in Washington
The World Trade Organisation has launched an investigation into US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on US$250 billion of Chinese goods, ratcheting up tensions as the two nations are set to begin a new round of trade talks, according to an official with knowledge of the latest development.
The Geneva-based arbiter of trade disputes on Monday began an inquiry into whether the US duties run afoul of a requirement that all World Trade Organisation (WTO) members give each other the same tariff treatment, as China asserts, said the official, who asked not to be identified because the decision has not been made public.
The WTO will now assign a panel to begin the investigation.
A US envoy to the WTO called the inquiry “pointless” and “entirely hypocritical,” according to a copy of the remarks made at the meeting and seen by Bloomberg.
“China is currently damaging the United States not only through its forced technology transfer practices but additionally by imposing discriminatory duties on over US$100 billion in US exports,” the envoy said.
