U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer believes the World Trade Organization dispute brought by China against the U.S. over the Commerce Department’s treatment of China as non-market economy in trade remedy cases is a top litigation priority for USTR, telling lawmakers a loss in the dispute would have serious consequences for the WTO.
[Jack Caporal] June 21st, 2017 [Inside Trade]
Lighthizer also updated senators on the status of deals struck with China under the initial outcomes of a bilateral 100-day plan, as well as additional steps the administration is considering with Beijing.
During a June 21 hearing on President Trump’s trade agenda and budget, Lighthizer told the Senate Finance Committee the non-market economy fight “is without question the most serious litigation matter we have at the WTO right now. And I have made it very clear that a bad decision with respect to non-market economy status with China … would be cataclysmic for the WTO.”
Lighthizer was responding to a question from Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) about the administration’s efforts to beat back China’s request to be treated as a market economy for the purposes of antidumping cases.
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