The case in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) brought by the EU on China’s trade influence measures against Lithuania has received support from the UK, which has announced seeking to join the consultations as another third party in the case, British-Canadian news agency Reuters reports.
The EU turned to the WTO in January submitting a challenge at the Swiss-based trade body, blaming China of discriminatory trade practices against Lithuania that, the EU believes, endanger the integrity of the EU’s single market.
British Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan stated on Twitter: «We will request to join the EU’s WTO consultation into these measures as a third party to ensure we combat economic coercion in trade together».
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The US, Australia and Taiwan have noted previously that they intend to join the consultations. The challenge procedure at the WTO gives 60 days for the parties to confer in order to reach a settlement. If no such settlement is reached, the EU may choose to launch a formal dispute that would establish a WTO panel to study its claims against China, who apparently can block the participation third parties in the coming consultations.
WTO case on Lithuania attracts UK seeking to counter «coercive trading practices» by China
