China Files Complaint to WTO over US Plan for Tariffs on $200 Billion of Goods

The announcement, from the Ministry of Commerce, came less than a week after the US Trade Representative proposed a second possible tariff hike following a measure targeting $34 billion of goods.

The Chinese ministry said last week that China would immediately complain to the WTO over American unilateralism. Earlier this month, the Chinese government said tit-for-tat duties on US goods took effect straight away after Washington’s 25 percent tariff on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods kicked in on July 6.

Washington imposed the tariff hikes in response to complaints that Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology, USA Today reported.

The $200 billion in goods sold to Americans every year represents about 40 percent of total US imports from China.

Trump is threatening 10 percent tariffs on this round of goods. The administration has already imposed 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion in Chinese imports, prompting blow-for-blow retaliation from the Chinese government.

Trump accuses China of unfair trade practices, such as subsidizing certain industries and ripping off American intellectual property. China says Trump is flouting established world trade rules and that it must protect its own economy.