China to request WTO permission for sanctions against US in trade war

China is planning to request permission to impose sanctions against the U.S. amid an escalating trade war between the two countries.

Beijing will ask the World Trade Organization (WTO) if it can impose sanctions on the U.S. over alleged non-compliance with a 2016 ruling, Reuters reported.

{mosads}The U.S. imposes “dumping duties,” tariffs on foreign products priced below U.S. market value, on several Chinese industries. China is claiming the U.S. continues to impose these duties even though the WTO has ruled several times that the way they are calculated is illegal. 

The deadline for the U.S. to comply with the most recent ruling expired on Aug. 22, China told the WTO last month, according to Reuters.

The request comes as President Trump threatens to impose tariffs on another $267 billion in Chinese goods “if he wants.” That would be in addition to the $200 billion he has already promised. 

“I hate to do this, but behind that there is another $267 billion ready to go on short notice if I want,” Trump said on Monday.

China has pledged to retaliate against any U.S. tariffs and Beijing has already challenged the tariffs at the WTO.