Brussels, 19/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 19 June, the EU rejected China's first request for WTO arbitration through the dispute settlement body (DSB) to rule on the Chinese complaint against the measures adopted by the EU in 2013 to change its tariff concessions on certain poultry-based products (DS 492).
At the WTO, China criticises the agreement concluded by the EU in 2012 with Brazil and Thailand on the allocation of quotas for poultry-based products. China says that this quota is mainly allocated to Brazil and Thailand, to the detriment of Chinese exporters - an allocation which it deems to be contrary to WTO rules (see EUROPE 11292).
The EU allocated 96% of the import quota available to Brazil and Thailand, and 4% to China and other exporters.
On Friday, the DSB agreed to return to this case. Under WTO rules, a member cannot oppose another member's second request to set up a dispute settlement panel. The EU will not therefore be able to oppose China's second request for arbitration.
The next DSB meeting is scheduled for 20 July. (Emmanuel Hagry)