On 21 November 2018, China used a World Trade Organization dispute settlement meeting in Geneva to push back hard against the United States, accusing Washington of hypocrisy after the U.S. triggered litigation over steel tariffs and intellectual property protection.
According to a copy of the remarks provided to Reuters, China’s representative told the meeting: “The statement made by the U.S. reeks of hypocrisy.” The comment came as the two sides clashed over trade and technology-related grievances at the WTO.
The exchange underscored the widening trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies, with each side accusing the other of unfair practices in the global trading system.
Reporting by Tom Miles; editing by Stephanie Nebehay