[UPDATE] China files WTO challenge to US solar tariffs, sends trade envoy to US
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Industry Government Manufacturing challenge China government manufacturing tariffs trade Trump WTOSays 30% tariffs announced in January violate WTO rules and improperly help US producers.
BEIJING — China’s government says it will send a trade envoy to Washington for talks amid a worsening tariff dispute.
The Commerce Ministry said a delegation led by a deputy minister will discuss “issues of mutual concern” but gave no other details of an agenda.
The two governments are poised to impose a new round of tariff hikes on each other’s goods next week in a dispute over Beijing’s technology policy.
China’s government says it has filed a challenge to a US tariff hike on solar panels in the World Trade Organization, adding to its sprawling trade dispute with President Donald Trump.
The Commerce Ministry said Wednesday the 30% tariffs announced in January violate WTO rules and improperly help US producers.
The Trump administration previously defended the tariffs on solar cells and modules as being in line with WTO rules. It said they were necessary to shield American manufacturers that were hurt by a flood of imports supported by subsidies and other improper measures.
The two governments have raised tariffs on billions of dollars of each other’s goods. The next round of increases threatened by both sides is due to take effect next week.
