WASHINGTON: The United States has won a trade dispute with China over duties slapped on US exports of large cars and sport utility vehicles, the World Trade Organisation said.
China, the second-biggest market for US auto exports, in 2011 started levying punitive duties on vehicles with engines of 2.5 liters and above, in retaliation for US trade policies. China, which only joined the WTO in 2001, is the second most common target of US disputes at the trade body after the European Union. US Trade Representative Michael Froman said the duties affected $5.1bn in US auto exports in 2013, including popular models such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Buick Enclave and Cadillac Escalade. Total US auto exports to China totaled $8.6bn.
Although Froman said he was pleased China had dropped the duties, which ranged up to 21.5 percent, he said it was worrying the US had brought, and won, three WTO cases against China over unfair import duties. Reuters
