US seeks WTO case on Chinese subsidies
13 July 2007
The United States has put in a request for a World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel to deal with illegal Chinese subsidies on a variety of products, AFP reported. "Although our two rounds of WTO consultations with China have been constructive, they have not resolved our concerns about China's apparent use of trade-distorting subsidies that it pledged to eliminate upon joining the World Trade Organization," said Sean Spicer of the US Trade Representative's office. US officials say Chinese subsidies on steel, paper, information technology and other industries allow China to export goods cheaply and enjoy an unfair advantage over US companies. The announcement follows increasing pressure on Washington to deal with a growing trade deficit with China, which reached US$20 billion for May and US$96 billion for the first five months of 2007.