China files complaint with World Trade Organization against US proposed tariff plan
Beijing has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) against the new US-proposed tariffs on Chinese goods, reacting to American unilateralism in a move that could further deepen rift with Washington over a protracted trade dispute.
China’s Ministry of Commerce made the announcement on Monday, saying that the measure had been adopted to counter US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 10 percent tariffs on an extra $200 billion worth of Chinese imports.
The US administration has already imposed 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese goods, prompting blow-for-blow retaliation from Beijing.
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer proposed the new tariffs last week and said they would not take effect until at least September.
Lighthizer released a list of thousands of Chinese imports — including food products, chemicals, coal, steel, and aluminum — that would be targeted by the planned tariffs.
Products ranging from car tires, handbags, suitcases, to dog and cat food, baseball gloves, carpets, doors, bicycles, skis, golf bags, toilet paper, and hundreds of food and beauty products were also included.
In an attempt to justify the unusually high tariffs, the US Trade Representative accused China of undertaking “unfair practices” in trade.
“For over a year, the Trump administration has patiently urged China to stop its unfair practices, open its market, and engage in true market competition,” Lighthizer said while announcing the proposed tariffs.
“Rather than address our legitimate concerns, China has begun to retaliate against US products... There is no justification for such action,” he added.
In response to the tariff hikes, China warned the US that it would have no choice but to take “the necessary countermeasures” against Washington.
China’s Assistant Commerce Minister Li Chenggang said the US measures would not only hurt the interests of China and the rest of the world but would harm America’s own interests as well.
Trump has also accused Beijing of intellectual property theft, obstructing US businesses, and being responsible for America’s 375-billion-dollar trade deficit with China.
China says Washington is "opening fire" on the world with its raft of tariffs aimed at Beijing as well as at trade partners in North America and Europe.
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