China has joined several other countries and entities in a two-day
consultation at the World Trade Organization's headquarters in
Geneva to settle a dispute against the United States over its
tariffs on imported steel, according to a statement issued
yesterday by the Chinese
Ministry of
Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation.
In
these joint consultations held on Thursday and yesterday, China,
the European Commission, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland
and Norway said to the United States that its protectionist
measures violate WTO requirements on safeguards.
They also voiced their concern over what they said is a systematic
abuse of safeguards by the United States despite condemnation by
the Appellate Body of the WTO.
The group called on the United States to terminate its tariffs
immediately.
Washington's move has outraged a number of steel producers
worldwide since it became effective on March 20.
If
these consultations fail to solve the dispute within 60 days from
the request, they intend to proceed to request a WTO panel.
The European Union, which made the first complaint on the issue, is
planning to submit a request to send a WTO expert group to further
solve the dispute on May 6.
China, a major exporter of steel products to the United States,
said it has a substantial trade interest in these
consultations.
(China
Daily April 13, 2002)