Feathers set to fly in China-EU poultry dispute

Nation seeks WTO intervention to ensure fair treatment of firms in the global market

China on Wednesday initiated the World Trade Organization dispute settlement procedure against the European Union for its import quota on processed poultry, as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure fair treatment for domestic companies in international markets.

In its complaint China said the EU had decided in 2013 to source 96 percent of its ready-to-eat poultry imports from Brazil and Thailand. The balance of 4 percent was to be divided between China and other nations. Not only was this far lower than the quantity imported from China earlier, it was a trade barrier for the nation's poultry producers.