This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Hibapress
China asked on Tuesday the opening of consultations with the United States about the customs duties imposed last week by the United States government, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said.
China has requested the opening of consultations with the United States as part of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism regarding American customs tariffs, the WTO said on its website, noting that the request was transmitted to the members of the organization on Tuesday.
The United States has imposed an additional right of 10 % on imports from all trade partners from April 5, and an additional 34 % right on imports from China, which will come into force on April 9.
China affirms that these measures are incompatible with the obligations incumbent on the United States under various provisions of the General Agreement on Customs and Trade (GATT) of 1994, the customs assessment agreement and the agreement on subsidions and compensatory measures, adds the same source.
The request for consultations constitutes the official opening of a dispute within the WTO. Consultations give the parties the possibility of discussing the question and finding a satisfactory solution without initiating legal proceedings. After 60 days, if the consultations did not resolve the dispute, the complainant can request the intervention of a special group.
On April 2, American President Donald Trump declared a new 10 % tax on all imported goods, as well as an additional punitive import tax adapted to each of the 60 countries which, according to his advisers, maintain the strictest barriers against American products.
As a reprisal, Beijing announced, Friday, a customs right of 34 % on all imports of American products from April 10.
