China welcomes a report of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Appellate Body that ruled the US steel safeguard measures are
inconsistent with WTO rules, a spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of
Commerce said in Beijing Tuesday.
Spokesman Chong Quan said the US safeguard measures have had a
negative impact on Chinese steel exports to the United States, and
"we welcome the report of the WTO Appellate Body."
China hopes the United States would carry out its responsibility
to the international community and withdraw those measures once the
WTO dispute settlement body passes the report, Chong said.
As a WTO member, China has exercised its due right in trying to
solve the trade dispute with other WTO members through the WTO
dispute settlement mechanism and protect the legitimate interests
of Chinese enterprises, he said.
The Appellate Body upheld the major findings of a July ruling,
which was issued after a complaint from the European Union, China,
Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Switzerland, Norway, New
Zealand and Brazil.
The co-complainants said in a joint statement that the WTO
report "leaves the United States with no other choice but to
terminate its WTO incompatible safeguard measures without
delay."
The US safeguard measures were imposed on 10 steel product
groupings and US President George W. Bush introduced the three-year
duties of up to 30 percent in March 2002.
The EU, followed by Japan, ROK, China, Switzerland, Norway, New
Zealand and Brazil, launched the WTO dispute settlement procedures
against the US steel safeguard measures.
The Appellate Body report must be adopted by the WTO Dispute
Settlement Body within 30 days.
(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2003)