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China expresses regret over U.S., EU complaint to WTO on auto parts+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)BEIJING, March 31_(Kyodo) _ China expressed regret Friday over a complaint filed with the World Trade Organization by the United States and European Union that says Beijing has violated WTO rules by unfairly treating U.S. and European auto parts. "China expresses regret," Commerce Ministry spokesman Chong Quan said in a statement posted on the ministry's website. "China is earnestly studying the demand for talks by the European Union and the United States" filed Thursday, the statement said. Washington and Brussels asked China to join WTO consultations on its auto parts tariff rules, which the two say break WTO rules. Among the complaints of the United States and the European Union is a Chinese regulation that typically slaps a high tariff on auto parts equal to that imposed on complete automobiles, or about 28 percent. The latest trade row comes at a time when the United States faces a huge trade deficit with China. Trade issues are expected to be a part of discussions between U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao when Hu visits the country next month. |