US requests WTO intervention in China poultry dispute

The United States filed a case at the World Trade Organization Thursday asking to strike down duties China imposed on US poultry products in August and September of 2010, Reuters reported. Beijing had raised duties on US chicken “broiler products” from 55% to 135%, claiming they were “dumped” on the Chinese market below fair market value. Before the duties, the US was the largest exporter of broiler products to China. Exports have since fallen by 90%. China began investigating the poultry imports in 2009, shortly after the US imposed a 35% tariff on Chinese-made tires. Michael Punke, US ambassador to the WTO, said a pattern “has seemed to emerge of the Chinese government’s reflexive resort to trade actions in response to legitimate actions taken by the United States or other trading partners under their trade remedies laws.” This is the 12th case the US has filed against China since it joined the trade body in 2001.