China requests consultations with US over anti-subsidy duties

GENEVA - China on Friday notified the WTO that it is requesting consultations with the United States over the latter's alleged non-compliance with the recommendations and rulings of WTO's dispute settlement body over countervailing duties (CVD), or anti-subsidy charges, on certain products from China.

In the original dispute, the United States was found to have acted inconsistently with several obligations in the Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM) Agreement relating to CVD determinations.

On Oct 9, 2015, a WTO arbitrator determined that the reasonable period of time for implementation would expire on April 1 this year.

Through original or review CVD determinations, the United States contin  ues to impose CVD on imports from China such as pressure pipes, line pipes, lawn groomers, kitchen shelvings and solar panels.

China alleges that these measures constitute continued and ongoing violations of US obligations under the SCM Agreement relating to key SCM concepts of "public body, benefit and specificity," and are in excess of the amount of subsidy found existing.