U.S. Close to Filing WTO Case Against China Over Steel, FT Says

U.S. officials may file a case against China at the World Trade Organization within weeks, contesting export restrictions on raw materials used in steelmaking, the Financial Times reported, citing unidentified people close to the discussions.

The U.S. may argue that Chinese export quotas and taxes on raw materials, including metallurgical coke used in steel production, violate WTO rules by artificially raising prices, the newspaper said.

A final decision has not been made, the FT said, adding that a move before the U.S. presidential election would support Republican Party claims that the government has been tough on WTO cases against China.

The office of the U.S. trade representative declined to comment, as did China's commerce ministry, the newspaper reported.