China launched formal complaints at the WTO against the US and the European Union (EU) over trade barriers, signaling that Beijing is becoming more aggressive in trying to keep its export markets open, the Wall Street Journal reported. Beijing made complaints over a US ban on Chinese poultry and a EU import tariff on Chinese-made screws, the first time Beijing has launched a complaint against Brussels at the WTO. China insists it is countering protectionism and that it fears job losses at home if the barriers are sustained. Brussels and Washington say the sanctions are justified by lax business and health regulations in China. EU officials said Chinese companies are benefiting from domestic tax breaks and low raw-material costs – 30% to 50% lower than in the EU – then dumping the fasteners at artificially low prices on the EU market.
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