China urged the United States on Friday to correct its anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures targeting Chinese coated paper, reiterating that these measures violate World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

 

In consultations held in Geneva, Chinese officials questioned the consistency of the US measures with WTO regulations, and urged the United States to consider China's concerns seriously and correct its measures, said a statement from the Chinese WTO mission.

 

The two sides also clarified some matters in the dispute and agreed to continue their contact on the issue, the statement said.

 

Friday's consultations were held under the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism. China brought the case to the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body on Sept. 14.

 

According to Chinese trade officials, from November 2006 to July 2007, the United States launched five anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese coated paper and steel tubes, which involved 635 Chinese enterprises with 70,000 employees and goods worth US$860 million.

 

Five dual investigations against Chinese products in less than a year was unprecedented in the history of world trade, the officials said.

 

According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the US decision not only violated WTO rules, but also went against a 23-year-old US bipartisan policy.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2007)