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China Updates WTO Challenge to Reflect Trump's Latest Tariffs

China Updates WTO Challenge to Reflect Trump's Latest Tariffs

(Bloomberg) -- The Chinese government said in a statement Tuesday it will amend a World Trade Organization complaint to incorporate U.S. President Donald Trump’s additional tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

China is arguing that the U.S. measures -- which will soon affect $250 billion worth of Chinese goods -- violate international trade rules by disregarding the privileges of the WTO’s most-favored nation treatment and skipping its dispute settlement procedures.

The move comes after the U.S. announced the third stage of its proposed tariffs on Sept. 17, alleging widespread violations of intellectual property rights and forced technology transfer policies on the part of China. A WTO spokesman said the organization has not yet received the text of China’s updated complaint.

Once the new version is filed, the WTO will reset the 60-day clock for consultations over the matter. If the U.S. and China are unable to reach an amicable solution within that time period, China may then ask the WTO dispute settlement body to investigate.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bryce Baschuk in Geneva at bbaschuk2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Richard Bravo at rbravo5@bloomberg.net, Ben Sills, Alan Crawford

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