The World Trade Organization (WTO) said on the 21st that a US government regulation requiring Hong Kong products sold in the US to be labeled “made in China” violates international trade rules.identifiedpublished a report a
It is the second time in a month that the WTO has denied a US request to exempt national security issues from WTO scrutiny.
A panel of three WTO trade experts backed the Hong Kong government’s claim that the rules, introduced at the end of the Trump administration, treat Hong Kong goods unfairly. He stressed that the situation between the United States and Hong Kong does not fall under the “emergency situation in international relations”, which is a condition for the application of the exception, and urged the United States to take measures in line with the agreement of the WTO.
Hodge, spokesman for the United States Trade Representative (USTR).declarationThe US said it “absolutely rejects” this accreditation and “does not intend to withdraw its labeling obligations”. “We do not intend to transfer political judgments and decisions on critical security issues to the WTO. This report further highlights the need for fundamental reform of the WTO,” she said.
However, the US can actually refuse accreditation if you appeal within 60 days. In 2019, the United States refused to appoint members to the Appellate Body, which is equivalent to the Supreme Court of the WTO’s dispute settlement system, and the body has not functioned since.
news-rsf-original-reference paywall">Original title:WTO backs Hong Kong in Trump-era ‘Made in China’ dispute with US(extract)
