As I mentioned earlier today, China has said it will implement the China - Auto Parts WTO decision by removing the offending measure (we don't have the full details yet as to what exactly they will do). A Reuters article on this issue makes an interesting point:
China's move to comply with the WTO ruling in the auto parts case came weeks before President Barack Obama is required to decide by Sept. 17 whether to restrict imports of Chinese-made tires in a trade case brought by union workers.
So, is there some kind of link here? Did China decide to implement fully in the hopes of getting better treatment from the Obama administration on the Tires issues? I'm not very in tune with all the behind the scenes maneuvering in these cases, but it seems possible. On the other hand, the reasonable period of time for China to implement Auto Parts expires September 1, so perhaps this was just something they were planning to do anyway, and it happens to coincide with the Tires decision.
