China files WTO suit against US over chip export controls, saying policy is ‘trade protectionism’
- Beijing’s complaint filed with dispute-settlement body accuses Washington of overstretching ‘notion of national security’ and hindering normal trade
- Move comes as US seeks allies’ backing of restrictions and as Taiwanese chips giant deepens investment in Arizona
Beijing filed its complaint with the WTO’s dispute-settlement body on Monday, according to a statement issued by China’s Ministry of Commerce on December 12.
The ministry accused the US of taking “a typical practice of trade protectionism” in curbing the export of chip products to China on security grounds.
“In recent years, the US side has continuously overstretched the notion of national security, abused export control measures, [and] hindered the normal international trade of chips and other products,” the statement read.
“[That] threatened the stability of global supply chains and industrial chains, undermined the international economic and trade order, violated international economic and trade rules, defied basic economic laws, and harmed the interests of global peace and development.”