Lithuanian president expects WTO procedures on China to give important answers

  • 2022-01-27
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – The World Trade Organization's procedures on China's unofficial economic sanctions against Lithuania will be lengthy, but will provide important answers about whether such aggressive behavior is in line with international trade rules, President Gitanas Nauseda said on Thursday.

"WTO procedures are quite lengthy, as you know, and perhaps this would be an occasion to discuss more broadly what unconventional attacks that politicize the economic aggression of one country against another country mean and whether they are acceptable in today's world and, most importantly, whether they comply with the WTO rules," the president told reporters. 

"Such answers would give more clarity and perhaps serve as a good counterweight in the future," he added.

According to the president, Lithuania is currently receiving a lot of help from EU institutions, both in communicating with the Chinese authorities and in raising issues of concern in general. 

Nauseda noted that he had discussed China's actions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier this week. 

"They are ready to use all the instruments available to the European Commission to influence this process," the Lithuanian president said.

On Thursday, the European Commission launched a case at the WTO against China over its discriminatory trade practices against Lithuania over its stance on Taiwan.

The EU's request for consultations says that China's restrictions violate the organization's rules on trade in goods and services.