Britain will join the US and Australia in backing a European Union case at the World Trade Organization over China’s “coercive trading practises” against Lithuania, Reuters has reported.
Last month, the EU launched a case at the WTO, accusing China of discriminatory trade practices against Lithuania that it said threaten the integrity of the bloc’s single market.
This followed the unannounced sanctions and a de facto economic blockade of Lithuania by China after Vilnius began forging closer ties with Taiwan, an island nation that Beijing views as part of its territory.
The US, Australia, and Taiwan have already said they intend to join the consultations at the WTO.
“We will request to join the EU's WTO consultation into these measures as a third party to ensure we combat economic coercion in trade together,” Anne-Marie Trevelyan, British Secretary of State for International Trade, wrote on Twitter.
The “request for consultations” is the first stage under WTO dispute settlement procedures. If the talks with China do not yield a result within 60 days, the EU may request the WTO to establish a panel to rule on the dispute.
A trade official told Reuters participation of other Western countries, assuming they are not blocked by Beijing, would be “helpful” to the EU’s case.
“If you have other members arguing on your behalf and putting forward arguments, I think the panel would look at that,” he said.
Read more: EU sues China over sanctions against Lithuania
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