China Seeks WTO Permission To Impose Sanctions On US - Reports

China will seek permission from the World Trade Organization (WTO) to impose sanctions on the United States next week, US media reports said.

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th September, 2018) China will seek permission from the World Trade Organization (WTO) to impose sanctions on the United States next week, US media reports said.

China's request is scheduled to be heard at a special meeting of the WTO's dispute settlement body on September 21, CNBC reported on Tuesday, citing the WTO's meeting agenda.

Beijing cited in the request Washington's non-compliance with a ruling over US dumping duties and could lead to years of legal wrangling, the report said.

The request comes against the backdrop of escalating trade tensions between the world's two largest economies.

The US-China tensions escalated in March, after Trump announced the United States would impose import duties on steel and aluminum.

Since, Washington and Beijing exchanged several rounds of tit-for-tat tariffs, with bilateral trade consultations failing to yield results.

In early August, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said President Donald Trump had asked him to consider raising tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods from 10 to 25 percent.

Trump said on Friday that the United States was ready to proceed with imposing additional tariffs on Chinese products worth $267 billion.

China has vowed to retaliate if the United States takes any new steps to impose tariffs.