China-Launch of WTO Dispute against USA.
China requested on Friday consultations with the United States over a U.S. laws affecting Chinese poultry products, launching a formal World Trade Organisation dispute on the issue.
In the written request, obtained by Reuters, Beijing said it believes that U.S. limits on poultry imports from China violate Washington’s international trade commitments, a particular concern at a time when protectionist fears are rising.
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Yahoo! Buzz"By imposing these restrictions with respect to imports from China, but not similarly prohibiting the import from other (WTO) members of like products, China is concerned that the U.S. fails to accord immediately and unconditionally to China an advantage, favour, privilege or immunity granted to other (WTO) members," the Chinese statement read.
If the two sides are not able to resolve their differences in the consultations, the dispute would move to the WTO Dispute Settlement Body which can set up a panel of judges to review the case and issue a verdict.
China and the United States have previously squared off at the Geneva-based trade body over issues including car parts, software piracy, copyright rules and export subsidies. The latest case centres on U.S. rules that restrict poultry products from China, a reaction to food safety scandals that have in recent years damaged the reputation of Chinese goods.
But Beijing says its poultry production meets international standards and that it exports poultry meat to other developed markets including Japan, the European Union and Switzerland.
Much of the WTO’s work is related to monitoring safety and health standards that trade economists say can be abused to block imports unfairly and protect domestic producers.
The U.S. Poultry and Egg Export Council -- fearful that the latest dispute will prompt retaliation in China, one of the biggest markets for U.S. poultry goods with sales worth $677 million in 2008
