China, US to Start Countervailing Consultations

%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EThe%20Ministry%20of%20Commerce%20announced%20on%20Sunday%20that%20it%20will%20soon%20start%20formal%20consultations%20with%20the%20United%20States%20on%20the%20latter%27s%2022%20countervailing%20measures%20against%20Chinese%20exports.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EA%20consultation%20request%20was%20filed%20by%20China%20to%20the%20Dispute%20Settlement%20Body%20of%20the%20World%20Trade%20Organization%20%28WTO%29%20on%20May%2025.%20It%20is%20the%20first%20stage%20of%20a%20formal%20dispute%20settlement.%20%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EAccording%20to%20WTO%20rules%2C%20China%20can%20apply%20to%20set%20up%20a%20WTO%20panel%20to%20hear%20and%20rule%20on%20the%20case%2C%20if%20the%20two%20countries%20fail%20to%20produce%20satisfactory%20results%20in%20the%2060%20days%20following%20the%20request.%20%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EThe%20consultation%20will%20run%20from%20July%2018%20to%2019%2C%20the%20ministry%20said.%20%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3ETwenty-two%20product%20categories%2C%20including%20steel%2C%20solar%20cells%20and%20paper%2C%20worth%207.29%20billion%20U.S.%20dollars%20collectively%2C%20are%20involved%2C%20according%20to%20the%20ministry.%20%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3ELi%20Chenggang%2C%20head%20of%20the%20ministry%27s%20Department%20of%20Treaty%20and%20Law%2C%20said%20the%20case%20reflects%20persistent%20wrongdoing%20by%20the%20United%20States%20in%20violating%20WTO%20rules.%20%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EUnder%20the%20WTO%20mechanism%2C%20the%20United%20States%20has%20received%20116%20complaints%20from%20nations%20including%20Japan%2C%20the%20Republic%20of%20Korea%20and%20India%2C%2060%20of%20which%20are%20on%20its%20trade%20remedy%20measures%2C%20he%20noted.%20%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3E%22Many%20WTO%20members%20are%20concerned%20with%20how%20the%20United%20States%20implements%20WTO%20rules%20in%20the%20respect%20of%20trade%20remedy%20issues%2C%22%20Li%20said%2C%20adding%20that%20the%20United%20States%20should%20reflect%20on%20its%20practices%2C%20and%20abide%20by%20multilateral%20rules%20with%20integrity.%20%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3ERegarding%20a%20U.S.%20complaint%20on%20China%27s%20anti-dumping%20and%20anti-subsidy%20duties%20on%20cars%20imported%20from%20the%20United%20States%2C%20Li%20said%20it%27s%20normal%20for%20trade%20partners%20to%20solve%20disputes%20through%20multilateral%20rules.%20%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EBut%20he%20argued%20that%2C%20no%20matter%20how%20the%20case%20ends%2C%20the%20United%20States%20will%20not%20be%20able%20to%20achieve%20its%20multiple%20ambitions%20placed%20on%20the%20case%2C%20which%20include%20seeking%20to%20strengthen%20trade%20enforcement%20and%20boost%20auto%20sector%20jobs.%20%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EIn%20response%20to%20a%20consultation%20request%20on%20the%20car%20imports%20case%20filed%20by%20the%20United%20States%20on%20Thursday%2C%20the%20ministry%20said%20it%20will%20properly%20handle%20the%20request%20in%20accordance%20with%20WTO%20dispute%20settlement%20procedures.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3EIn%20December%20last%20year%2C%20China%20announced%20it%20would%20levy%20anti-dumping%20and%20anti-subsidy%20duties%20on%20sedans%20and%20sports%20utility%20vehicles%20with%20engines%20of%202.5%20liters%20and%20above%20imported%20from%20the%20United%20States%2C%20after%20an%20investigation%20showed%20evidence%20of%20dumping.%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E%0D%0A%3CP%3E%3CFONT%20face%3DVerdana%3E%28CRI%20English%29%3CBR%3E%3C/FONT%3E%3C/P%3E