U.S. urged to revoke sanctions related to steel and aluminum

China urged the United States to promptly revoke its Section 232 tariff measures related to steel and aluminum that violate the World Trade Organization rules and collaborate with other WTO members to collectively uphold the rules-centered multilateral trading system, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Wednesday.

The commerce ministry said it has taken notice of the WTO panel report regarding China's countermeasures against the U.S. Section 232 tariff measures related to steel and aluminum.

The head of the ministry's department of treaty and law said China is studying the report and will follow up on it in accordance with WTO rules.

The official pointed out that the primary issue in this situation stems from the one-sided and protectionist actions initiated by the U.S.. China's responsive measures are conducted lawfully and are valid steps to protect the country's legitimate rights and interests.

Starting from March 2018, the U.S. has broadened the interpretation of "national security" and enforced tariffs on steel and aluminum goods shipped to the U.S. by numerous WTO members, which includes China, said the official.

These actions have stirred widespread discontent, leading China and several other WTO members to turn to the WTO's dispute resolution mechanism. By December 2022, the WTO had determined that these U.S. measures were in violation of WTO regulations, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

However, despite this ruling, the U.S. remained steadfast in its approach, impeding the implementation of the expert panel's decision, neglecting its obligations and declining to retract the unlawful tariff measures, the official noted.