China rejects U.S request for dispute panel in grain quota case

From the National Association of Wheat Growers

The United States’ first request to China to establish a dispute settlement panel in a WTO case involving tariff rate quotas has been denied. The panel would address concerns that China has been blocking billions of dollars in wheat, rice and corn imports and was requested following bilateral discussions within the WTO’s agriculture committee which didn’t result in any fixes. The U.S. can now reissue its request for a panel at the next meeting of the WTO’s dispute settlement body where unless all members in attendance agreed not to establish it, would allow the panel to move forward. This sets up what could be a lengthy litigation process with years of appeals.