China to impose anti-dumping duties on US goods

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=117929&sectionid=351020404

The Chinese Commerce Ministry plans to adopt heavy anti-dumping penalties on American goods amid deteriorating ties between Washington and Beijing.

The Ministry said in a preliminary ruling on Friday that it will impose the penalties before mid-February.

They will target US chicken said to be sold at unfairly low prices. China says the low prices are hurting domestic producers.

Beijing says importers will have to pay deposits based on the difference between the meat's "normal value" and the alleged cut price. The difference is more than 100 percent.

This means the government will be paid more than double the original amount of the imported meat.

The move appears to come in response to similar threats from the US.

US President Barack Obama had earlier spoken of pressing China to open its markets and enforce existing trade rules.

Relations between China and the United States are tense over a number of issues.

China's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said on Thursday that a Beijing decision to impose unspecified sanctions on US firms selling weapons to Taiwan was an "appropriate" measure.

China has already reduced its military cooperation with the Pentagon over the 6.4-billion-dollar US arms sales to Taiwan.

Washington has also threatened Beijing with 'consequences,' should the Asian nation continue to oppose more sanctions against Iran over its nuclear energy program.

Meanwhile, an upcoming meeting between Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, and President Obama has also drawn the ire of China. Beijing views the Tibetan leader as a separatist element threatening its sovereignty.