
BEIJING, Dec. 30 -- China refuted recent U.S. comments warning Europe against granting China market economy status on Wednesday, saying China has been living up to its World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks when responding to a question regarding a Financial Times report, which said Washington has warned Brussels against granting China market economy status as it could hamper efforts to prevent Chinese companies flooding U.S. and European markets with unfairly cheap goods.
"We hope this is a rumor," Lu told a routine press briefing. To safeguard the solemnity of the global trade system is the common responsibility of all WTO member states and also meets their respective interests, he said.
Since China is currently not characterized by the EU as a full market economy, countries that level dumping accusations against it always pick data from a "surrogate" country with a recognized market economy.
Lu said according to China's WTO Accession Protocol signed in 2001, this practice should be terminated by Dec. 11, 2016.
It is a fundamental principle of the international law to abide by treaties, he said. No contracting party can evade its legal obligation to international treaties by citing domestic law and take unfair, unjust and unreasonable discriminatory practices towards Chinese companies.
As a WTO member, China has been seriously fulfilling its legal WTO obligations, and should at the same time enjoy the rights granted by the WTO, Lu said.
Hailing the sound trade cooperation between China and the European Union, the spokesperson urged the EU to abide by WTO regulations and take substantial steps to fulfill its obligation to China's WTO Accession Protocol.
"This will help growth of China-EU trade relations," he said.
Are these the world’s scariest landing strips?
In pics: Left behind children in China
Eight modern day engineering marvels of China
Chinese beauty with sexiest bottom
Charming female bodybuilders of Chengdu University
Polish sports stars strip off for risqué calendar
Spectacular aerial photos of the Three Gorges
Contestants of Mrs. Globe pose for photo in Shenzhen
Bikini models attend hot pot banquet in Hefei
Top 20 hottest women in the world in 2014
Top 10 hardest languages to learn
10 Chinese female stars with most beautiful faces
China’s Top 10 Unique Bridges, Highways and Roads
Face of China 2015
A hard year 2015’s stories
Smartphone makers jockey for dominance of Chinese market
Film star's posts stirs debates on Chinese, foreign medical servicesDay|Week