China does not provide enough data on subsidies, says WTO

The WTO said in a review of China’s trade policy that the country does not provide sufficient information about its subsidies and other forms of government assistance to local companies, Bloomberg reported. “China submitted a new WTO notification of its subsidies in 2011, listing programs providing government assistance at the central government level between 2005 and 2008,” the organization said Tuesday. “However, in many cases there are no figures on the magnitude of support provided, and no information is available on subsidies and other government assistance provided at the provincial level, which are believed to be considerable.” China has grown increasingly comfortable using the WTO has a means to adjudicate trade disputes with other nations; on Friday the WTO ruled in its favor and against the US on accusations that American anti-dumping duties on imports of diamond saw blades and frozen warm-water shrimp from China were inconsistent with WTO rules.