China filed complaints to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Friday about a US law effectively banning imports of Chinese poultry products, saying the law may violate WTO regulations.

Pursuant to Section 727 of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, which was already signed into law, the United States effectively prohibits the establishment or implementation of any measures that would allow poultry products to be imported from China, the Chinese WTO mission said.

China is concerned that Section 727 places restrictions on the import from China of poultry products that are inconsistent with the United States' WTO obligations, it added.

The Chinese mission said it had sent a note to the US mission requesting WTO consultations with the restrictive law. Related documents have also been sent to the WTO.

"China reserves its right to raise further factual and legal issues and arguments during the course of the consultations, and in any future request for the establishment of a panel," the mission said.

According to WTO's dispute settlement procedures, once complaints are filed, the two concerned parties usually have some 60 days to try to resolve their dispute through consultations.

If that fails, China can request the establishment of a WTO expert panel to investigate and rule on the legality of the US measures.

(Xinhua News Agency April 17, 2009)