The U.S. brought two cases against China in the WTO in 2015. One involves China’s VAT tax and its exclusion of domestically-produced aircraft and the other export subsidies for goods produced in special zones. China brought no cases against the U.S.

     China did bring a case against the EU concerning poultry restrictions and Canada brought one against China concerning antidumping duties on pulp imports from Canada.

      What does this mean?

     Clearly the initiation of new cases by China and cases against China has slowed down.  But cases are being filed.

      It is hard to make many judgments beyond this. However, I would say that the dispute resolution system of the WTO continues to serve as the principal mechanism for resolving China trade disputes ……. 

         ….. and that’s good.

….. 2015 Report of the USTR on China’s WTO Compliance (USTR 2015).

….. WTO Disputes by Country (www.WTO.org 2016) (“China”)