But the WTO’s three-member panel said the US duties broke trading rules because they applied only to China and were above maximum rates agreed to by the United States. Washington had not then adequately explained why its measures were a justified exception, the panel concluded.
The World Trade Organization found on Tuesday that the United States breached global trading rules by imposing multibillion-dollar tariffs in President Donald Trump’s trade war with China, a ruling that drew anger from Washington.
The Trump administration says its tariffs imposed two years ago on more than US$200 billion ($272 billion) in Chinese goods were justified because China was stealing intellectual property and forcing US companies to transfer technology for access to China’s markets.
