WTO panel determines U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods are illegal

Dispute resolution panel rules that the U.S. duties are inconsistent with WTO rules

A dispute resolution panel of the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled on September 15 that the duties the United States has been imposing on several Chinese goods are inconsistent with WTO rules.

The U.S. duties on Chinese goods have been imposed in several waves, starting in 2018, and targeting several billion dollars of Chinese exports to the U.S. in retaliation to “China’s acts, policies, and practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation.”

The United States Trade Representative vigorously protested the WTO decision, claiming that the trade body need to be reformed in order to allow the U.S. to protect its technology through retaliation measures.

Link: WTO panel issues report regarding U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods