The administration imposed tariffs of up to 50% on imports of large washing machines over three years and up to 30% on solar panels over four years. South Korea, which has signed a free trade deal with the US and is a crucial ally in Washington's confrontation with North Korea, said it would file a petition at the WTO. Its Trade Minister Kim Hyun-Chong said the tariffs were "excessive" and may constitute a "violation of WTO provisions." Last year, Mr Trump launched dozens of trade cases, taking what his commerce department called "unprecedented" action on trade. The US investigation into solar imports was launched following complaints from US companies Suniva, a bankrupt Chinese-owned firm, and SolarWorld, owned by a German concern that declared insolvency in May.

Source: Bangkok Post January 23, 2018 08:37 UTC