China resorts to WTO panel to settle disputes with US

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Friday that the country has requested the establishment of a WTO panel to settle disputes with the United States as soon as possible.

On May 13, 2016, China proposed consultations with the United States over the latter's alleged non-compliance with the recommendations and rulings of WTO dispute settlement body over countervailing duties on certain products from China.

In the original dispute, the United States was found to have acted inconsistently with several obligations in the Subsidies and Countervailing Measures Agreement relating to countervailing duty determinations.

Unfortunately, a round of consultation with the United States via telephone on May 27 failed to resolve China's concerns, the MOC said in a statement.

The ministry on Friday requested the establishment of a WTO panel by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB). According to WTO rules and agreement between China and the United States, the panel should be set up during the DSB meeting on July 21.

"China is opposed to the abuse of trade remedy measures and will firmly exercise its rights as a WTO member and protect the legitimate interests of the domestic industry," the statement said.