WTO members confront US over trade bullying

GENEVA — Members of the World Trade Organization have denounced the United States for its abusive series of appeals against the global trade watchdog's panel rulings over its import tariffs and flawed labeling of goods origins.

Pressing for a changed stance from Washington, they have urged the US to fulfill its obligations as a WTO member and stop its unilateral and protectionist moves.

At the latest Dispute Settlement Body, or DSB, meeting held on Friday, five WTO members — China, Norway, Switzerland, Turkiye, and Hong Kong — required the plenary meeting to pass five panel rulings regarding duties imposed by the US on steel and aluminum imports and the US origin marking requirement applicable to goods produced in Hong Kong.

Before the meeting, Washington had appealed four panel rulings regarding duties imposed by the US on imports of steel and aluminum products from China, Norway, Switzerland and Turkiye.

Washington has a long history of trade bullying. Though it used its right of appeal as a WTO member, its action amount "to effectively blocking" WTO rulings, according to a statement by the EU on Friday.

The EU noted that the panel reports have been appealed, but these appeals cannot be currently heard by the Appellate Body, given that it cannot function.

The US tends to appeal every unfavorable panel report and refuse to comply with the results of any proceedings of the DSB, China's Ambassador to the WTO Li Chenggang told a DSB meeting.

"These troubling behaviors of the US have clearly depicted an image of the US as a unilateral bully, a rule breaker and a supply chain disrupter," Li said.

So far, 127 WTO members have attempted on 61 occasions to start the selection process for filling vacancies on the Appellate Body. Still, the US blocked the proposed decision.

Xinhua