17/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - WTO Director General, Pascal Lamy, is concerned about the increase in US customs duties on tyres imported from China. This has been occurring since President Barack Obama made his decision on 11 September, in the face of a tripling of Chinese tyre imports onto the US market over a five year period. This increase in duty led, on Tuesday 15 September (the same day the WTO published its report on protectionist controls: see other article), to China lodging a complaint at the WTO against the US. Washington used a special safeguard clause (in cases of increased imports) planned for a ten year period as part of China's access to the WTO in 2001. This clause, which is triggered at a lower level than in normal procedures, had never previously been used by the US or EU. In retaliation, the furious Chinese authorities have announced the opening of an anti-dumping campaign against exports of US car spare parts and poultry. Mr Lamy is afraid of a “spiral in reprisals”. (E.H./trans/rh)