China wants to impose $ 2.4 billion sanctions on the US for certain Obama administration duties – Business Insider Italia

Just over a week ago, the agreement of Washington had averted theincrease in duties promised by Trump on Chinese products. Despite the normal mistrust, the agreement was seen as a first step towards resolution of the trade war between the United States and Beijing. A path that however remains uneven, as shown by a wound that reopens in the difficult relationship between the two countries. This time it is the Asian giant that wants to retaliate against Western power, accusing it of not having respected the WTO provisions on the imposition of some duties dating back to the period of Obama presidency. And for this he asked for permission to hit it with compensatory penalties for a value of 2.4 billion dollars.

The case concerns the tariffs imposed in 2012 by the US democratic administration on some Chinese exports, from solar panels to wind towers, up to steel cylinders: sales that, remember Reuters, worth about 7.3 billion dollars. These duties had been justified by the US authorities with the need to strike subsidized productions, after 17 surveys carried out between 2007 and 2012 that targeted some Chinese companies under state control.

China had turned to WTO to challenge the burden on its exports, criticizing the results of the investigations conducted by the US Department of Commerce. And the organs of the WTO had considered valid some of its disputes: the judges of the international organization had clarified that the punitive measures of the United States did not respect the norms of theAgreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. And for this they had recommended changing them.

The controversy dragged on for several years until last summer the Dispute settlement body – the WTO conciliation body that deals with resolving disputes between members – reiterated the American default, urging the Washington authorities to fix things. But as we read in document presented by China to the WTO, “at the meeting of Dispute settlement body held on 15 August 2019, the United States did not indicate its intention to implement the DSB's recommendations and decisions on this dispute ".

Given the circumstances and considering that no compensation agreement has been reached between the two powers, China has decided to proceed, requesting authorization from the WTO to "suspend concessions and related obligations amounting to 2.4 billion dollars" , it is specified in the file. The request for the imposition of these sanctions could be discussed at the next meeting of the Dispute settlement body expected for October 28th.