James Politi and Shawn Donnan:
Washington claimed victory in a World Trade Organisation case challenging the decision by China to impose duties on about $5bn worth of annual sales of US cars – from the Jeep Grand Cherokee to the Cadillac Escalade.
The development comes amid rising bilateral trade tensions over allegations of Chinese hacking into US companies’ files and renewed friction on the strength of the renminbi.
Michael Froman, the US trade representative, was flanked by Debbie Stabenow and Sandy Levin, two senior Democratic members of Congress from Michigan with close ties to US carmakers, on Friday as he touted the win for the Obama administration.