China Files WTO Complaint against US over Tariff Dispute

China Files WTO Complaint against US over Tariff Dispute

BEIJING, Feb. 13 - The Chinese Ministry of Commerce held a regular press conference on February 13, where a spokesperson for the ministry, He Yinhua, answered questions from reporters.

In response to a question about China's move to file a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the US over its tariffs, He Yinhua said that China has already filed the complaint and will follow WTO rules and procedures in handling the case.

He emphasized that China urges the US to abandon its zero-sum thinking and correct its mistakes, return to a multilateral trade system, and engage in equal consultations with other countries to resolve their concerns.

In response to another question about the US's recent decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, He Yinhua said that China has noticed that the US government announced on February 10, Eastern Time, that it would adjust its tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, restoring the original 232 tariffs and further increasing tariffs on aluminum products.

He described the US's move as a typical example of unilateralism and protectionism, which many countries have already expressed opposition to. He also pointed out that the WTO Appellate Body had ruled in 2022 that the US's 232 tariffs were inconsistent with WTO rules, but the US had not only maintained its original tariffs but also further increased them on aluminum products.

'In fact, the WTO experts' group has already determined in 2022 that the US's 232 tariff measures are inconsistent with WTO rules,' He Yinhua said. 'However, the US not only maintained its original 232 steel and aluminum tariffs but also further increased tariffs on aluminum products, causing serious harm to other countries' interests and seriously undermining the multilateral trade system based on rules, which has a shock impact on global supply chains.'

He Yinhua's remarks underscored China's commitment to upholding the principles of multilateralism and rule-based trade, and its determination to work with other countries to promote a fair and open international trade environment.