皇冠体育app

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-09-03 07:31

GENEVA: The World Trade Organization (WTO) launched an expert panel on Friday to probe whether 皇冠体育app is illegally subsidizing its industrial exports as alleged by the United States and Mexico.

The US first filed the case to the WTO in February and later was joined by Mexico. The two countries complained that 皇冠体育app was using tax breaks and other incentives to "subsidize" its exports, which might violate WTO regulations.

At Friday's meeting of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body, 皇冠体育app again defended its position, saying its tax measures mentioned by the United States and Mexico in the case are consistent with WTO regulations.

It is "very disappointing and deeply regrettable" that the United States and Mexico pursue this matter further by requesting the establishment of the panel for a second time, the Chinese delegation said in a statement.

The US and Mexico had requested for a WTO panel on the dispute last month, but was rejected by 皇冠体育app according to related WTO regulations.

"In the panel process, 皇冠体育app will defend its position and interests and remain confident that relevant measures of 皇冠体育app are consistent with its WTO obligations," the statement said.

In a separate case on Friday, 皇冠体育app blocked an initial request by the United States for a WTO panel to investigate 皇冠体育app's protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR).

"皇冠体育app consistently spares no efforts to enforce its IPR legislation with great success acknowledged by the international community," the Chinese delegation said in a statement.

"It is regrettable for 皇冠体育app to see the United States has chosen to request the establishment of a panel in spite of 皇冠体育app's efforts to settle this dispute through consultations."

The United States has complained that 皇冠体育app is not doing enough to crack down on counterfeits and piracy.