Dispute Settlement Panels Created to Evaluate China-Canada Trade Skirmish

The World Trade Organization has agreed to establish dispute settlement panels to investigate the trade skirmish between Canada and China. China is upset with the Canadian duties on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. Canada is challenging China’s retaliatory tariffs on its canola meal, canola oil, field peas and pork. The dispute settlement panels can submit a report, but the WTO can’t take action until its appellate body considers the issue. That is complicated by the fact the WTO appellate body has not had the required number of members to hear an appeal since 2019.