China’s Ministry of Commerce has called on the United States to lift the tariffs it imposed on Chinese steel and aluminum imports without delay.
The statement was made in response to a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel’s ruling, which found China guilty of imposing additional duties on specific US imports. China acknowledged the WTO panel’s decision and is currently reviewing the report.
The ministry attributed the issue to the “unilateralist and protectionist behaviors” of the US.
China asserted that its countermeasures, carried out in accordance with the law, are a legitimate means to protect its rights and interests.
The Trump administration introduced tariffs of 25% on certain steel imports and 10% on certain aluminum imports under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 in 2018.
Though the US has not implemented strict quotas, discussions have explored alternatives like tariff-rate quotas to manage import volumes.
