EU Refers China to WTO Over Lithuania Trade Restrictions
27 Janeiro 2022 - 4:54AM
Dow Jones News
By Cristina Roca
The European Union has opened dispute-settlement proceedings
against China at the World Trade Organization over the country's
trade practices with Lithuania, calling them discriminatory.
"These actions, which appear to be discriminatory and illegal
under WTO rules, are harming exporters both in Lithuania and
elsewhere in the EU, as they also target products with Lithuanian
content exported from other EU countries," the European Commission,
the bloc's executive arm, said Thursday.
It said attempts to solve the issue bilaterally have failed.
Beijing blocked Lithuanian companies' access to its market in
December, in retaliation for the country's outreach to Taiwan.
Lithuania is a member of the EU.
"On China's part, the door to communication with Lithuania
remains open. If the Lithuanian side truly hopes to mend fences, it
should show its sincerity with concrete actions," Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said last week.
The ministry didn't immediately respond after being contacted
for comment.
Write to Cristina Roca at cristina.roca@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 27, 2022 02:39 ET (07:39 GMT)
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