China seeks US$2.4 billion sanctions against US for not complying with WTO ruling on Obama era tariffs
- Beijing says Washington ignored dispute body’s ruling on 2012 appeal
- US investigations led to tariffs on exports China valued at US$7.3 billion
China is seeking US$2.4 billion in retaliatory sanctions against the United States after it failed to comply with a WTO ruling in a tariffs case dating to Barack Obama’s presidency, according to a document published on Monday.
A World Trade Organisation appeals panel said in July that the US did not fully comply with a ruling and could face sanctions from China if it does not drop the tariffs that break the watchdog’s rules.
China said: “In response to the United States’ continued non-compliance with the (WTO Dispute Settlement Body’s) recommendations and rulings, China requests authorisation from the DSB to suspend concessions and related obligations at an annual amount of US$2.4 billion.”
The US failed to comply with the recommendations and rulings within the specified period and no agreement on compensation was reached, it said.
China went to the WTO in 2012 to challenge US anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese exports including solar panels, wind towers, steel cylinders and aluminium extrusions, exports that China valued at US$7.3 billion at the time.
The duties were imposed as the result of 17 investigations by US commerce officials between 2007 and 2012.