China reacts mildly to US complaint at WTO

China on Saturday reacted mildly to the complaint filed against by the US at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) against the anti-dumping and countervailing duties slapped by Beijing on cars imported from America.

''We shouldn't let this disturb the big-picture of developing bilateral relations between the two countries,'' said a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman. ''This will benefit the two countries.'' A spokesman of the commerce ministry said China would deal with the matter 'appropriately.'

The two economic giants have a period of 60 days to resolve the dispute through consultations, following which the US can ask a dispute panel to take up the matter.

China imposed anti-dumping and countervailing duties on cars produced in the US and sports utility vehicles with engine capacities of 2.5 litres or more. The move saw the cost of imported American vehicles almost double in China.

But, in an election year, the US administration has not taken kindly to the Chinese move. Addressing a campaign rally in Ohio, President Barack Obama claimed that his administration had taken action against China for its unfair trade practices.

''Americans are not afraid to compete,'' declared the US president. ''We believe in competition. I believe in trade. Americans and American workers build better products than anybody else so as long as we're competing on a fair playing field instead of an unfair playing field, we'll do just fine. But we're going to make sure that competition is fair.''