United States

The Office of the United States Trade Representative says it will pursue dispute settlement consultations with the Government of China through the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding China’s export subsidy scheme. In a press release announcing the move, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman called the scheme “unfair” and harmful to American workers and reiterated a vow by U.S. President Barack Obama to pursue “vigorous enforcement” of global trade policies. China is accused of granting illegal export subsidies to dozens of industries, including textiles and garments, through a program it calls “Common Service Platforms.” (U.S. Trade Representative)/( Fibre2Fashion)
 
Major container ports on the Pacific coast of the United States have reopened following a shutdown over the President’s Day holiday and the arrival of U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez to California. U.S. President Barack Obama says that Perez will meet with both dockworkers’ unions and port operators to help resolve a months-long contract dispute that has hampered the flow of goods through the ports, which receive a large volume of goods from Asia. A federal mediator was assigned to the negotiations last month. (Reuters)