China says its manufacturing subsidies are in sync with WTO rules

February 16, 2015

BEIJING – China has returned fire against claims by the Office of the US Trade Representative to the WTO that it offers subsidies for the exports of seven manufacturing industries through “demonstration bases” that receive free or discounted services.

China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that Government subsidies are “in conformity with WTO rules and will help the country ship more quality products to the world market.”

The Ministry said that “given current global economic conditions, building model manufacturing bases and public service platforms to offer subsidies to cash-starved domestic companies is a practical way for them to seek and gain new market growth points, as well as improving the technical content and environmental protection standards of their products”. www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).