According to the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan officially asked the WTO to establish a panel under the WTO Agreement to resolve trade disputes regarding China’s anti-dumping (AD) measures on Japan’s stainless steel products, on the grounds that China’s measures are inconsistent with international agreements.

The Japanese government filed a lawsuit with the WTO this June, negotiating with China in compliance with the WTO agreement; however, both sides failed to reach an agreement. According to regulations, if the two parties can’t solve their problems through a bilateral agreement within 60 days, the establishment of a dispute settlement panel can be requested.