China hauls US to WTO over poultry
Sunday, 19 April 2009
GENEVA, Apr 18 (AFP): China yesterday lodged filed a complaint against the United States at the World Trade Organization over "discriminatory" US legislation against Chinese poultry imports.
"China considers that the US ... through Section 727, is in breach of its obligations," according to a request for formal consultations filed by the Chinese at the WTO.
Beijing had launched the action in the WTO in response to a US spending bill that it says contains a clause opposing imports of Chinese poultry.
"China is concerned that Section 727, in conjunction with the overall US regime for regulating imports of poultry products, places restrictions on the import from China of poultry products that are inconsistent with the United States' WTO obligations," said the filing obtained by AFP.
In a statement posted Friday on the Chinese commerce ministry website, Beijing said the United States and China had held discussions on the matter "but these bilateral talks failed to resolve Chinese concerns."
"China considers that the US ... through Section 727, is in breach of its obligations," according to a request for formal consultations filed by the Chinese at the WTO.
Beijing had launched the action in the WTO in response to a US spending bill that it says contains a clause opposing imports of Chinese poultry.
"China is concerned that Section 727, in conjunction with the overall US regime for regulating imports of poultry products, places restrictions on the import from China of poultry products that are inconsistent with the United States' WTO obligations," said the filing obtained by AFP.
In a statement posted Friday on the Chinese commerce ministry website, Beijing said the United States and China had held discussions on the matter "but these bilateral talks failed to resolve Chinese concerns."