Wednesday, September 16, 2020
World Trade Organization rules against U.S.
The World Trade Organization has ruled that the United States broke trade rules when it imposed tariffs on China.
The Chinese hailed the ruling as a victory proving that it is in the right.
But Robert Lighthizer, trade negotiator for the United States, said China violated the rules on intellectual property rights.
The U.S. argued at the World Trade Organization that China's actions had amounted to "state-sanctioned theft" and "misappropriation" of U.S. technology, intellectual property and commercial secrets.
The United States can appeal the ruling, but it has refused to allow new people to be appointed to disputes-settling panels, so appeals now simply disappear into a void.
The Chinese hailed the ruling as a victory proving that it is in the right.
But Robert Lighthizer, trade negotiator for the United States, said China violated the rules on intellectual property rights.
The U.S. argued at the World Trade Organization that China's actions had amounted to "state-sanctioned theft" and "misappropriation" of U.S. technology, intellectual property and commercial secrets.
The United States can appeal the ruling, but it has refused to allow new people to be appointed to disputes-settling panels, so appeals now simply disappear into a void.
