China files request to WTO over EU poultry meattarrif quota dispute

10/04/2015 12:00 - 508 Views

GENEVA - The World Trade Organization (WTO) said on Thursday that China has notified itsSecretariat of a request for consultations with the European Union (EU) over a poultry meattarrif quota dispute.

China said that the measures affect imports of certain poultry meat products from China andare inconsistent with the obligations of the EU under the relevant provisions of the WTOAgreements, claiming that the EU failed to negotiate or consult with it as required by theAgreements.

WTO noted this is China's 13th request for consultations since it joined the WTO, and its 4thcomplaint against measures adopted by the EU.

The EU signed up a quota assignment treaty with Brazil and Thailand on poultry meatproducts in 2012, which took effect in March 2013. The move is believed to have violatedWTO rules.

The treaty dented the interests of Chinese poultry meat exporters and failed to ease concernsafter China's repeated calls for proper settlement, according to Sun Jiwen, spokesperson withthe Ministry of Commerce of China.

China hoped that the dispute could be settled within the WTO mechanism to protect theinterests of domestic market players, Sun added.

Source: China Daily