China to file WTO complaint on US poultry ban

China will file a complaint to the World Trade Organisation about a decision by the US Congress to restrict imports of Chinese poultry, Commerce Ministry (MOC) spokesman Yao Jian said Wednesday (Mar 11).

China and the US banned imports of each other's poultry in 2004 following bird flu outbreaks, but had agreed to lift the bans at the Sino-US joint Commission on Commerce and Trade in 2004. However, MOC trade expert Mei Xinyu said while China had lifted the ban, the US had failed to fulfill its obligations.

Also, the US House of Representatives passed a US$410 billion spending bill that would fund the government through September, the end of fiscal 2009, but none of the funds in the bill may be used to allow imports of poultry products from China.

That is a discriminatory and protectionist action which is in violation of World Trade Organisation rules, according to Yao.

Yao said China has established a quality control system for its poultry producers in line with international standards. He said China exports poultry to the EU, Japan and Switzerland.

The US spending bill would effectively stop USDA officials from travelling to China to conduct inspections or other work that would lead to an end of the import ban, said Chinese experts.

Wang Xiulin, an official with the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products, said if the provision remained in the bill, it would be difficult for Chinese poultry to enter the US market within the next five years.

China has imported more than 4 million tonnes of US poultry products since 2004, including 580,000 tonnes of chicken products last year, according to the local media.