China To Impose Dumping Penalties On U.S. Chicken

China, the largest market for U.S. chicken, will impose anti-dumping duties of as much as 105.4 percent on imports of American poultry products, threatening to deepen a trade rift. Importers of U.S. broiler-chicken products will be required to pay after an investigation showed they had caused 'material damage' to local suppliers by selling at below-market prices, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on its Website, citing a preliminary ruling. The duties are effective Feb. 13.

Bloomberg News reports that the ruling may further strain trade relations between the U.S. and China, which began its investigation in September, two weeks after the U.S. imposed tariffs on Chinese tire shipments. Ties have soured over proposed U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and President Barack Obama’s plan to meet the Dalai Lama this month.