The Hindu : China drags U.S. to WTO on steel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 16, 2002

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International

China drags U.S. to WTO on steel

BEIJING, MARCH. 15. China, the world's top steel-maker, today appealed to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against the U.S. decision to steeply raise the import tariffs on steel, citing violation of WTO rules and trade protectionism.

The Chinese Government has proposed to the WTO that consultations be held with the United States on its recent decision to raise tariffs on steel imports, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation said in a statement here.

The Chinese Government requested the U.S. side to decide the time and site for consultations, it said. China was ``deeply shocked'' by the Bush Administration's three-year package plan that imposes tariff quota limits and slaps tariffs of upto 30 per cent on steel imports.

``This decision not only goes against the WTO rules, but also will have a serious impact on China's normal steel exports to the United States, hence causing huge losses to the steel makers of China,'' the statement said.

MOFTEC Minister Shi Guangsheng had said on Tuesday that ``we are closely following the development of the situation, and the Chinese side will retain its rights to further reaction, including appeal to the WTO trade dispute mechanism.''

Relevant businesses and trade unions in China have strongly reacted to the US decision. — PTI

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