China launches WTO dispute over Trump

6/2/2025 6:09

China has formally launched a

dispute at the World Trade Organization (WTO) over tariffs

imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Chinese goods, the

Geneva-based body said on Wednesday.







Trump on Saturday ordered tariffs on goods from Mexico,

Canada and China, demanding they staunch the flow of fentanyl -

and, in the case of Canada and Mexico illegal immigration. He

later froze tariffs against the two North American countries but

went ahead with those on China.



China, which Trump subjected to a tariff of 10% on goods

exports, had vowed to challenge the step at the WTO.



In a statement cited by the WTO, China said the measures

appeared to be inconsistent with U.S. obligations under the

agreement that led to the creation of the trade body, pointing

to the discriminatory nature of the tariffs.



"China reserves the right to raise additional measures

and claims regarding the matters identified herein during the

course of consultations and in any future request for the

establishment of a panel," the Chinese statement said.



It did not detail what measures those could be.



Since December 2019, the WTO's dispute settlement system

has been effectively paralyzed following the collapse of its

Appellate Body which has the final say on disputes.



Trump's first administration and that of Joe Biden

blocked the appointment of new judges to the Appellate Body over

what they saw as judicial overreach in disputes. The body is

unable to function with less than three judges.