China, EU: Of Textiles and Arms Embargoes

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles has asked the Chinese Ministry of Commerce to file suit with the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body against EU anti-dumping tariffs levied on several Chinese textile producers, the chamber's vice-chairman said March 23. This would represent China's first independently-filed suit with the WTO. Since China has solved similar problems in U.S. markets through negotiations, not suits, the potential Chinese suit suggests Beijing could be using the textile trade to pressure the EU into lifting its arms embargo on China.