Japan Launches Gripe in WTO Over Chinese Antidumping Duties on Stainless Steel Products

The Japanese government has requested consultations with the government of China at the World Trade Organization over Chinese antidumping duties on stainless steel billets, hot-rolled coils and hot-rolled plates from Japan, it said in a June 15 consultation request. The measures are inconsistent with China's commitments in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, Japan said. The antidumping duties were not based on positive evidence, were imposed without proper analyses and were put in place without demonstrating a harm to domestic industry, the request said.