USTR Requests Comments on Chinese WTO Compliance

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is asking for stakeholder comments on Chinese compliance with World Trade Organization commitments, and will convene an Oct. 1 public hearing on the matter. Comments and testimony will be used to compile an annual USTR report on Chinese WTO compliance. The U.S. has claimed victory in a number of recent disputes with China, including the early August WTO appellate body decision to affirm China violated trade rules through its export restraint regime on two rare earth metals (see 14080812). USTR is asking stakeholders to comment and testify on tariff barriers, export regulations, subsidies and other internal policies, along with a number of other barriers. Comments should be submitted on http://www.regulations.gov under docket number USTR-2014-0015. Comments and requests to participate at the hearing are due Sept. 17.