Thread by @bbaschuk

This morning the @wto dispute settlement body is expected to grant China's second request for a dispute inquiry into @realDonaldTrump's tariffs on $250 billion of Chinese goods.

Here's a look at what's at stake:
bloom.bg/2WoxHxN

@bpolitics
@tictoc

@wto @realDonaldTrump @bpolitics @tictoc At today's @wto dispute settlement meeting in Geneva a U.S. envoy said a dispute inquiry into @realDonaldTrump's tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods would be `pointless' because China has already retaliated with tariffs against $100 billion worth of U.S. exports.

@wto @realDonaldTrump @bpolitics @tictoc U.S. Statement - "China’s request is entirely hypocritical. China is currently damaging the United States not only through its forced technology transfer practices but additionally by imposing discriminatory duties on over $100 billion in U.S. exports."

@wto @realDonaldTrump @bpolitics @tictoc US Statement: "In these circumstances, the outcome of any dispute settlement proceeding would
be pointless. As we have noted, China has already taken the unilateral decision that the U.S. measures cannot be justified, and China has already imposed tariff measures on U.S. goods."

@wto @realDonaldTrump @bpolitics @tictoc In response, the Chinese delegation to the @wto said the U.S. tariffs "not only infringe China’s rights and interests under the covered agreements, but also flagrantly violate various WTO rules and the fundamental principles in this Organization."

@wto @realDonaldTrump @bpolitics @tictoc China Statement: "If the United States were free to continue infringing these principles without consequences, the future viability of this organization is in dire peril."