Brazil goes to WTO over sugar imports to China
The complaint is a response to Brazilian sugar exports plunging since China imposed an extra tariff last year
Geneva — Brazil has launched a complaint against China with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to challenge Beijing’s restrictions on sugar imports, a filing published by the WTO showed on Monday. Brazil said it was challenging China’s “safeguard measure” on imported sugar, the administration of its tariff-rate quota, and its “automatic import licensing” system for out-of-quota sugar. Brazil’s recourse to the WTO, confirming a move approved by its foreign trade chamber Camex on August 31, is a response to a plunge in Brazilian sugar exports since China imposed an additional 45% sugar tariff last year. The tax was reduced to 40% this May and will be cut to 35% in May 2019. The Brazilian filing said it came on top of the regular tariff for sugar, which was 15% on the first 1.945-million tons and 50% on any imports outside that quota. The WTO’s Safeguards Agreement allows such tariffs as a temporary measure to counter a sudden and unforeseen surge in imports that threatens to damage na...
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