City
Epaper

Trump threatens to pull US out of WTO

By IANS | Updated: August 14, 2019 15:35 IST

US President Donald Trump has threatened to pull Washington out of the World Trade Organization (WTO) following "years of mistreatment" at the hands of the organization.

Open in App

Speaking at a campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, Trump said: "We will leave if we have to."

"They have been s****ing us for years, and it's not going to happen any longer," he said, according to media reports.

The WTO is an intergovernmental organisation that regulates international trade between nations.

Trump said the US does not need the WTO if it fails to address loopholes that favour certain nations. He has repeatedly criticized the organization, claiming that Washington is disadvantaged as a member of the global bloc.

He has also repeatedly called the WTO a "catastrophe" and a "disaster" for the US.

The White House said in a memorandum that China and many other countries continue to style themselves as developing countries "allowing them to enjoy the benefits that come with that status and seek weaker commitments than those made by other WTO members".

Shortly after issuing the memorandum, Trump said in a statement that the WTO is "broken" as the world's richest countries claim to be developing countries and get special treatment to avoid the organization's rules.

China, with whom the US is engaged in a bruising trade war, has been identified by Washington as the "most significant abuser" of WTO regulations. Since joining the organization, Beijing has insisted that it is a developing country, according to the memorandum.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: WTOtrumpuswashingtonchina
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalPakistan Engaged in Diplomatic Contacts With Iran, China and Others to De-Escalate Situation: Pak Defence Minister

International‘Not Going To Get Involved in Middle of War’: JD Vance Over India-Pakistan Tensions

InternationalOperation Sindoor: Pakistan, China Shocked as India Destroys HQ-9 Air Defence System in Lahore

NationalOperation Sindoor: PM Narendra Modi Calls For All-Party Meeting On May 8 After India Strikes On Pakistan Terror Camps

InternationalChina Blast: 17 Inured as Explosion Rocks Residential Area in Shanxi Province; Disturbing Video Goes Viral

International Realted Stories

InternationalIndia insisted on direct communication between the DGMOs, rejecting any third-party assurances: Sources

InternationalMuslim World League welcomes 'ceasefire agreement' between India and Pakistan

InternationalMore than 100 terrorists captured in Judea, Samaria

InternationalCrown Prince of Abu Dhabi arrives in Astana on official visit

InternationalJaishankar talks to Egyptian FM, emphasises importance of "zero tolerance" for terrorism