China has informed the World Trade Organization that it is initiating reconciliation talks with the United States over U.S. export controls. The WTO press office confirmed the move.
China has requested WTO consultations to challenge U.S. restrictions on certain advanced computer semiconductor chips and related manufacturing equipment. The aim is to demonstrate that the measures violate WTO rules. This request marks the first formal step in the WTO dispute-resolution process, with the possibility that, if unresolved, the case could be referred to an arbitral tribunal for resolution.
The Chinese edition of Global Times quoted a Beijing source urging WTO members to stand together against Washington, arguing that U.S. actions undermine international trading norms. The piece recalled the WTO ruling on December 9 that U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs imposed in 2018 for national security reasons violated the organization’s rules. Washington’s response, the article notes, was sharp, with the White House insisting the decision contained errors and declining to lift the tariffs.
According to official channels, Beijing seeks a multilateral evaluation under WTO rules, aiming to restore a rules-based framework for high-tech trade and supply chains that are pivotal to global manufacturing. The outcome of these consultations could shape the trajectory of U.S.-China tech frictions and influence broader discussions on export controls and WTO dispute settlement mechanisms. [WTO press office]