China files WTO complaint against U.S.

BEIJING, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- China, retaliating against U.S. tariffs on its tires, took its case to the World Trade Organization in preparation for a final ruling by the panel.

Even as it countered with its own anti-dumping and anti-subsidies investigation into U.S. automotive and chicken imports, China filed a complaint Monday to the WTO in Geneva, saying the U.S. tariffs of up to 35 percent on China-made tires announced last week ran "counter to relevant WTO rules" and "is a wrong practice abusing trade remedies," an official Chinese statement said.

Xinhua reported the WTO dispute settlement procedure will now give 60 days to the two countries to resolve the issue through consultations. Failing that process, China can ask for a WTO probe and a ruling on the case.

The Chinese mission in Geneva said it hoped "all sides will understand its determination to firmly fight against trade protectionism so as to commonly safeguard the multilateral trading system by respecting WTO rules."

President Barack Obama's decision on the tariffs was based on the U.S. International Trade Commission's conclusion that a surge in Chinese-made tires had cost thousands of U.S. jobs.

China reportedly exported about $1.3 billion worth of tires to the United States in the first seven months of this year. During the same period, the United States exported about $800 million worth of automotive products and $376 million worth of chicken to China.