The European Union has appealed against a World Trade Organisation ruling that said its duties on fasteners from China broke international trade rules, a WTO spokesman said on Friday(March 25).

WTO judges ruled in December 2010 hat the EU’s policy of imposing a single blanket duty on imports discriminates against Chinese exporters of the screws and bolts. The ruling by a panel of WTO experts last year marked a victory for China in its first WTO dispute with the EU. It was a setback for the European Union in its dealing with countries it considers are not market economies, such as China, Vietnam and Cuba.

Unless the Geneva-based WTO backs the EU appeal, the case may have broader implications by compelling the 27-nation bloc to start imposing anti-dumping tariffs on a company-by-company basis.

The WTO has sixty days to respond to the EU's appeal.

www.chinaFastenerinfo.net