Saturday March 18, 2006

Washington may file a WTO case

WASHINGTON: The United States will do whatever it can, including filing a case with the World Trade Organisation (WTO), to stop China discriminating against certain US goods, Deputy US Trade Representative Karan Bhatia said.

After a “top-to-bottom” review of its trade relations with China, the US concluded it should treat China as a “mature trading partner,” that must bear its responsibilities under a global rules-based trading system.

“The United States is prepared to use all necessary tools to secure China's compliance with its WTO commitments,” Bhatia, on a visit to the Philippines, said on Thursday.

“Hopefully, we will be able to work through those problems without resorting to litigation.

“But the hallmark of a mature trading relationship, and I think increasingly we and China have a mature trading relationship, is that we can make use of WTO mechanisms if they are needed,” he said.

Both the US and the European Union contend that China was violating WTO rules by imposing high tariffs on foreign auto parts after exceeding a certain quantity. – Reuters/China Daily

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