China has filed a trade complaint against the US with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Geneva, over tariffs recently imposed on imports of steel and aluminium products.
According to the complaint, China claims the duties of 25 per cent and 10 per cent on imports of steel and aluminium products respectively are inconsistent with provisions of the WTO's General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 and of the Agreement on Safeguards.
Chinese authorities allege the US has breached the GATT by failing to follow proper procedural requirements, including notification and consultation procedures.
The complaint also states that “the United States has failed to administer its laws, regulations, decisions and rulings in relation to the measures at issue in a uniform, impartial and reasonable manner”.
President Donald Trump unveiled the tariffs at a meeting of US metal industry representatives earlier this year. At the time, he told the industry reps: “You’ll have protection for a long time. You’ll have to regrow your industries, that’s all I’m asking.
“People have no idea how badly our country has been mistreated.”
The announcement of the tariffs sparked fears of a global trade war, which escalated when China responded by announcing $3bn (£2.1bn) of tariffs on US goods, including 25 per cent levies on pork and scrap aluminium, and 15 per cent tariffs on apples and almonds.
