It is a move that should not improve the already extremely tense relations between the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the World Trade Organization.
According to the WTO, the customs taxes imposed by Washington on China are contrary to international trade rules.
In a report published Tuesday, September 16, the WTO expert group tasked with ruling on this case at Beijing's request concluded that "the measures at issue are inconsistent" with various articles by Gatt (ancestor of the WTO ), and "recommends that the United States bring its measures into conformity with its obligations".
The Trump administration was quick to react by assuring that the WTO was "totally inadequate" to put an end to practices deemed "harmful" by China.
Trade war
This case, brought by Beijing to the WTO in 2018, concerns a first tranche of customs duties imposed by the United States on some 250 billion dollars of Chinese goods.
These punitive tariffs marked the start of a trade war between the two economic giants and were one of the hallmarks of the Trump presidency.
Washington and Beijing then struck a largely stalled trade deal.
The two parties can now appeal to the WTO, but the appeal body of the Geneva-based institution, whose appointment of judges is blocked by Washington, has not been operational since December 11 due to lack of magistrates in sufficient number.
With AFP
The summary of the week
France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week
I subscribe
Take international news everywhere with you!
Download the France 24 application
google-play-badge_FR