US, China Spar Again Over Respective Trade Policies

China and the United States clashed again over their respective trade policies at a time the two countries are trying to iron out their differences so further U.S. tariffs are not imposed on Chinese goods.

- 

Dennis Shea, the U.S. ambassador to the WTO, said criticism from China about the U.S.’s “unilateralist and protectionist” approach to trade was unwarranted.

He also insisted the U.S. wants to reform the global trading system to make it fairer for U.S. citizens and defended America’s long role in supporting that system for seven decades, at the World Trade Organization and its predecessors.

“The United States is raising serious concerns with the functioning and direction of this important institution, and the fundamental challenge posed by China’s state-led, mercantilist approach to the economy and trade,” Shea said during closed-door remarks for the WTO’s 14th and latest regular “trade policy review” of the United States.

He said the global trade environment was “heavily skewed” in favor of China.

The U.S. and China are locked in a trade standoff, though President Donald Trump agreed this month to postpone more U.S. tariff hikes on Chinese goods for 90 days while negotiations continue.