Beijing said on Tuesday that it had filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation against the United States over President Donald Trump’s tariff increases on Chinese goods.

The statement comes a day after Trump ordered additional tariffs on Chinese goods, raising previously imposed 10 per cent levies to 20 per cent.

“The United States’ unilateral tax measures seriously violate WTO rules and undermine the foundation of China-US economic and trade cooperation,” Beijing’s commerce ministry said in a statement, adding that it was “strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed” to the tariffs.

In response, Beijing has imposed new duties on a range of agricultural imports from the United States.

The additional 15 per cent tariffs on products including chicken, wheat, corn, and cotton are set to take effect next week.

“China will, in accordance with WTO rules, firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and defend… the international economic and trade order,” the commerce ministry added.

A WTO official confirmed to AFP that the new complaint from China had been received.

Trump, in imposing the tariffs, said China had not done enough to halt the trafficking of fentanyl and other highly potent opioids, which kill thousands of Americans each year.

Analysts suggest that stopping the flow of deadly drugs is just one of Trump’s objectives, as he also frequently cites trade imbalances when discussing tariffs


https://punchng.com/china-files-complaint-with-wto-over-us-tariffs/