China requests consultation and compensation over US solar tariffs

China has requested consultations with the US over its decision to apply a safeguard measure on imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, according to a WTO filing from Tuesday 6 February.

The filing stated: “We believe the measures taken by the United States are not consistent with its obligations under the relevant provisions of the GATT 1994 and Safeguards Agreement. [...] China also is exercising its right to trade compensation consultations.”

China requested that the consultations take place on 9 February or 12 February.

Both Taiwan and South Korea have already taken similar steps through the WTO on the US PV tariffs.

China and Taiwan were singled-out in two previous US anti-dumping duty cases and are also included in the latest Section 201 trade case that saw US President Trump impose a further 30% import duty on the two countries, but also the rest of the world, with a few exemptions of countries with limited supply capabilities.

Tags: china, us, section 201, wto, trade dispute, tariff, usa