Taiwan to set deadline for China to end steel dispute
Taiwanese authorities confirmed that they have requested
China to start bilateral negotiations on the country's safeguard measures imposed on steel imports. The deadline set for
China to start bilateral negotiations in order to end the steel depute is November 21, as announced by the deputy representative of
Taiwan's WTO delegation, the date on which the 180 days interval of safeguards expire.
According to the WTO rules,
China has to start bilateral negotiations for settlement of dispute with the nations subject to investigations upon completion of the maximum 180 days period of safeguard measures.
As a WTO member,
Taiwan has the right to ask for bilateral talks following the expiration of 180 days period of safeguard measures implemented to protect a nations industry however the officials express their discontent on
China's constant refusal of their proposals.
China announced it would start anti-dumping investigation into 11 steel products imported from
Taiwan, in May 2002. During the investigation period,
China used safeguard provisions to impose an additional tariff ranging from 7 to 26% on Taiwanese steel products to safeguard its steel industry.
China is reported to be currently in talks with
Japan, South
Korea and
Mexico over these safeguard provisions such talks from which
Taiwan is excluded.