US to seek new WTO probe of China trade rules

GENEVA, Oct 11 (Reuters) The United States will ask the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to examine restrictions to the sale of U.S.

audio-visual entertainment products in China, an agenda for an upcoming WTO meeting released on Thursday showed.

China will have the right to block the initial panel request at the Oct. 22 dispute settlement body meeting. Upon a second request, the probe would be launched automatically.

Trade tensions between Washington and Beijing have increased dramatically over the past year. The United States is pursuing other WTO disputes against China over issues including car parts, government subsidy programmes, and piracy against U.S. films and branded goods.

China has also launched a case against the United States over U.S. anti-dumping measures limiting Chinese paper imports.

REUTERS SR GC1900