The US on Wednesday challenged China’s export duties on nine key metals and minerals, arguing that they violate Beijing’s commitments to the WTO and give an unfair advantage to Chinese manufacturers.
China said it respected WTO rules and that the duties had been imposed as part of efforts at environmental protection.
US Trade Representative Michael Froman said that the raw materials case seeks to remove China’s export duties of 5 percent to 20 percent on antimony, cobalt, copper, graphite, lead, various magnesia compounds, talc, tantalum and tin, which it said are key inputs into US industries, including aerospace, autos, electronics and chemicals.
He said that the duties impose higher costs on US manufacturers, while Chinese competitors do not have to pay them, encouraging companies to locate production in China.
“These duties are China’s attempt to game the system so that raw materials are cheaper for their manufacturers and more expensive for ours,” Froman said in a statement.
“This scheme is directly at odds with WTO commitments China has made, and, as we have shown time and again, we will hold them accountable to their commitments.”
The Chinese Ministry of Commerce expressed regret at the decision and said it would handle it according to the WTO dispute resolution process.
China’s export duties have been imposed in the face of “daily worsening pressure on resources and the environment” and are to help with sustainable development.
“They are a part of overall measures to strengthen environmental protection and accord with WTO rules,” the ministry said.
The Office of the US Trade Representative said that as part of the terms of its joining the WTO in 2001, China had committed to eliminating export duties for all products other than those listed in a specific annex, which exclude the nine metals and minerals named in the case.
As a result of other WTO challenges, the office said that China in April agreed to scrap some export subsidies, while the US won a ruling against Chinese import duties on certain US high-tech steel products.
The US Department of Commerce has imposed steep anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on a range of Chinese steel products.
However, in a sign that the steel trade brawl would keep escalating, the Chinese ministry on Wednesday said that it would seek relief from the WTO after accusing the US of deliberately misinterpreting WTO rules in applying anti-dumping duties on Chinese-made stainless steel sheet and strip products.
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