Beijing (TDI): China has filed a lawsuit with the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the United States’ imposition of “reciprocal tariffs” on its trading partners including China, Chinese Commerce Ministry (MOFCOM) said on Friday.
The US imposition of so-called “reciprocal tariffs” seriously violates WTO rules, severely harms the legitimate rights and interests of WTO members, and considerably undermines the rules-based multilateral trading system and world economic and trade order, MOFCOM said.
“This is a typical example of unilateral bullying that jeopardizes the stability of the world economic and trade order. Beijing firmly opposes this.”
China has always been a staunch defender of the world economic and trade order and a strong supporter of the multilateral trading system, it said
“We urge the United States to immediately correct its erroneous practices and cancel unilateral tariff steps,” MOFCOM added.
Read More: China Strikes Back at Trump’s Tariffs
This legal challenge illustrates China’s uncompromising view of what it perceives to be increasing unilateralism on the part of the United States, which Beijing feels is undermining the foundations of multilateralism in the trading system.
For China, taking this dispute to the WTO showcases its intention to support the legal and institutional resolution of disputes as opposed to the escalation of hostilities or retaliatory responses.
Read More: China Vows Countermeasures Against US ‘Reciprocal Tariffs’
From Beijing’s perspective, the suit, while defending China’s own economic interests, also seeks broader objectives related to the principles of fairness and non-discrimination in global trade.
