The World Trade Organization (WTO) announced on the 5th (local time) that China has initiated a dispute in response to the additional tariffs imposed by the United States on Chinese products.
On the same day, the WTO released a statement on its website that China has requested dispute consultations with the WTO regarding the United States' new tariff measures. This request was communicated to WTO member countries on the same day.
The U.S. Donald Trump administration announced an executive order starting the previous day to impose an additional 10% general tariff on all imports from China.
China argued that the additional tariffs, the de minimis exemption, and refund possibilities all violate the United States' Most-Favored-Nation obligations and tariff commitments under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994).
The consultation request initiates a WTO complaint. The disputing parties have the opportunity to seek a resolution through consultations without proceeding further with litigation. If the dispute is not resolved through consultations within 60 days, a WTO panel (expert review body) can be requested to make a ruling.
Earlier, when the U.S. tariff increase took effect, China immediately announced its intention to file a complaint against the United States at the WTO. It also warned that starting from the 10th, it would impose additional tariffs of 10-15% on certain U.S. imports such as coal and petroleum as trade retaliation.
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