March 2, 2011

 

China files shrimp dispute against US at WTO 

 

China has taken the US to the World Trade Organisation, requesting consultations with the latter over a controversial anti-dumping calculation imposed by Washington against Chinese frozen shrimp, the trade body said Tuesday (Mar 1).

 

The Chinese commerce ministry said in 2004, the US decided to apply a complex anti-dumping calculation called zeroing on Chinese frozen warmwater shrimps. Chinese exporters brought their case to US courts, but lost a final appeal in 2010.

 

It added that Beijing has sought to negotiate a solution with Washington, but the US failed to address China's concerns.

 

The US has lost several disputes at the WTO over the zeroing method, and Washington proposed in December to end the anti-dumping measure in upcoming reviews.

 

Despite Washington's proposal to end zeroing, China has "determined to pursue consultations even as the US is in the midst of its domestic legal and administrative compliance process, including consultations with Congress," said Nefeterius McPherson, spokeswoman for the US Trade Representative.

 

"The decision now by China to pursue new claims against the US on zeroing only complicates resolution of this issue," she added.