China has initiated a dispute complaint against Canadian surtax measures, claiming they appear to be inconsistent with the most favoured nation principle enshrined in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 and Canada's GATT schedule of customs duty concessions and commitments.
Further information is available in document WT/DS627/1.
The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Consultations provide an opportunity for parties to discuss the matter and seek a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. If consultations fail to resolve the dispute within 60 days, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.