US launches WTO challenge against China over "unfair technology practices"

WASHINGTON, March 23 (KUNA) -- The United States on Friday announced it was taking action against China the World Trade Organization over "unfair technology practices." "The United States is taking action at the WTO to address China's unfair technology practices that run counter to WTO rules," the statement from the US Trade Representative's (USTR) office said.
This comes a day after President Donald Trump levied China with tariffs on as much as USD 60 billion of imports to retaliate against the so-called "theft" of US intellectual property, stoking trade tensions between the two largest economies in the world.
Trump also announced he was directing the USTR to pursue dispute settlement in the WTO to confront China over its policies that he says result in unfair treatment for US companies and innovators trying to do business in China.
"China appears to be breaking WTO rules by denying foreign patent holders, including US companies, basic patent rights to stop a Chinese entity from using the technology after a licensing contract ends," said the USTR in its statement.
It said China also appears to be breaking WTO rules by imposing contract terms that discriminate against imported foreign technology.
"These Chinese policies hurt innovators in the US and worldwide by interfering with the ability of foreign technology holders to set market-based terms in licensing and other technology-related contracts," said the USTR.
China warned the US on Friday that it was "not afraid of a trade war" and threatened tariffs on USD 3 billion worth of American goods in retaliation over the US measures. (end) hy.sd