CHINA/TRADE DEALS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/WTO: “China is showing a willingness to push back against mounting trade pressure from the Trump administration, filing challenges to new U.S. tariffs on solar panels and washing machines at the World Trade Organization.
The petitions submitted to the global commerce arbiter on Tuesday [2-6-18] argue that the tariffs ‘are not consistent’ with international rules, and seek compensation from Washington.
The petitions follow an announcement on Sunday by the Chinese Commerce Ministry that it was investigating American exporters of sorghum for allegedly ‘dumping’ the grain below cost, aided by improper U.S. government subsidies, into the Chinese market. The probe could result in duties being imposed to block the U.S. product.
The Trump administration has been debating adopting a tougher trade policy against China, possibly including broad tariffs and investment restrictions. The measures are being considered as part of a probe into widespread complaints that the Chinese government forces U.S. companies to turn over valuable intellectual property as the price for entering their market ‘These practices by the Chinese are estimated to cost the United States billions of dollars each year,’ the White House said in a recent statement.
A spokeswoman for Mr. Trump’s U.S. trade representative declined to comment on the China WTO filing.”
-Jacob M. Sclesinger, “China Fires Back at U.S. on Trade, Challenging Tariffs,” The Wall Street Journal online, Feb. 6, 2018 05:17pm