China urges U.S. to respect WTO ruling against Inflation Reduction Act

China urges the United States to respect a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that found U.S. clean energy subsidies under its Inflation Reduction Act inconsistent with WTO rules, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday.

Ministry spokesman He Yadong made the remarks at a press briefing in Beijing when asked to comment on a statement by the Office of the United States Trade Representative regarding the ruling that requires the U.S. to withdraw the subsidies in question.

The U.S. side, while acknowledging it lost the case, said the ruling was wrong and claimed that existing WTO rules cannot address the issue of "overcapacity".

"As a WTO member, the U.S. should respect the ruling and comply with rules. The existing WTO rules were jointly negotiated and agreed upon by participants in the Uruguay Round, including the United States. As both a negotiating party and a signatory, the U.S. has an obligation to comply with its international treaty commitments," said He.

"The relevant actions and remarks by the U.S. are aimed at excusing its own violations of treaty obligations and abuse of subsidies and other protectionist practices, while attempting to shift the blame for insufficient industrial competitiveness and other domestic problems onto others. Such moves artificially interfere with and fragment global markets, undermining the stability of global industrial and supply chains," he said.

"The current international economic and trade order is facing severe shocks from unilateralism and protectionism, and safeguarding a multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core is the shared responsibility of all WTO members. We urge the U.S. side to earnestly respect WTO rulings, promptly correct practices that violate WTO rules, and uphold the rules-based multilateral trading order through concrete actions," said the spokesman.

China urges U.S. to respect WTO ruling against Inflation Reduction Act

China urges U.S. to respect WTO ruling against Inflation Reduction Act

China urges U.S. to respect WTO ruling against Inflation Reduction Act

Some Japanese people said on Thursday that the government led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi must firmly uphold the pacifist constitution.

Their remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Japan from Tuesday to Thursday.

Attending a joint press conference with Takaichi on Wednesday, Macron emphasized that France and Japan have agreed on the importance of on the importance of quickly de-escalating the conflict in the Middle East and upholding international law.

Many saw this as a response to a strongly worded post by U.S. President Donald Trump on social media, which criticized France for refusing to cooperate with the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

Some locals in Tokyo expressed their opposition to Japan's involvement in any war, but said Japan could offer help when the conflict in the Middle East ends.

"I think that Prime Minister Takaichi could offer support, provided that we wouldn't get involved in an armed conflict, such as minesweeping operations at sea, as Japan has the best minesweeping technology in the world," said a resident in Tokyo.

"I'm not entirely sure what consequences will follow Trump's demands. There may be additional tariffs, among other things. Our constitution prohibits [Japan's] from getting involved in war, and Prime Minister Takaichi should uphold this principle," said another resident.

Tokyo residents urge PM Takaichi to uphold pacifist constitution