WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration filed a trade complaint with the World Trade Organization on Thursday against China for allegedly “dumping” aluminum on the global market at artificially low prices.
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said China is using artificially cheap loans and illegal subsidies to undercut the global price of aluminum. That makes it harder for the U.S. aluminum industry to sell its products overseas at competitive prices.
“China gives its aluminum industry an unfair advantage through underpriced loans and other illegal government subsidies,” President Barack Obama said in a statement.
This is the 16th trade enforcement challenge the U.S. has filed against China through the WTO. It’s unclear what effect it will have considering the Obama administration ends in just over a week.
President-elect Donald Trump made closing the U.S. trade gap with China a top priority during his presidential election campaign. He has threatened to slap 45 percent tariffs on Chinese products and to label China a “currency manipulator.”
