China blocks US steel despite WTO ruling

24/01/2014 12:00 - 477 Views

The US Trade Representative Michael Froman accused Beijing of not complying with a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling to drop duties on high-tech steel imports.

Mr Froman said China continued to block imports of US flat-rolled electrical steel, used in transformers, electric motors and generators, despite a WTO ruling in America's favour.

"The WTO found that China's duties are inconsistent with WTO rules. We were right and China was wrong," Mr Froman told reporters. "Unfortunately, it appears that China has not corrected those inconsistencies."

The US brought the steel case in 2010 after China accused US exporters of dumping steel on the Chinese market at prices below the cost of production and levied punitive duties. The WTO decided for the United States in 2012.

Victims of non-compliance of such rulings can seek compensation or redress from trading partners under WTO trading rules, according to the Shipping Gazette.

Source: transportweekly