Casey: Obama Should Rectify WTO Ruling, Get Tough On China US Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to United States Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk urging the Obama Administration to “take all steps necessary” to rectify a recent World Trade Organization ruling that would jeopardize the United States’ ability to carry out anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations against China.
penalties against unfair Chinese trade practices. The US position was upheld in a host of related practices, but a recent Appellate decision reversed this. “We agree with you this decision ‘appears to be a clear case of overreaching by the Appellate Body’,” wrote the Senators to Ambassador Kirk.
“Given the huge challenge of the Chinese government’s massive industrial policies, it is more important than “Given the huge challenge of the Chinese government’s ever that our workers and industries retain the ability massive industrial policies, it is more important than to use our trade laws and effectively combat subsidies ever that our workers and industries retain the ability that violate international trade rules. to use our trade laws and effectively combat subsidies that violate international trade rules,” wrote the Sena- “This dispute arises from four products from China: tors. “US trade remedy laws provide critical support to new pneumatic off-road tires, circular welded pipe, U.S. manufacturers, farmers, and producers. However, light-walled rectangular pipe and tube, and laminated this most recent WTO decision is a grave threat to ef- woven sacks. In each case, the Dept. of Commerce forts to restore long-term growth and job creation in US found these products were being subsidized by the Chimanufacturing. Massive Chinese government subsidies nese government and also being dumped below their are making it very difficult for US manufacturing to fair market value.” compete.” “US trade remedy laws provide critical support to manThe Government of China brought a challenge to sev- ufacturers, farmers, and producers. However, this most eral AD and CVD investigations conducted by the recent WTO decision is a grave threat to efforts to reUnited States in 2008. In October 2010, a WTO dispute store long-term growth and job creation in US manusettlement panel ruled the United States had the right to facturing.” impose both antidumping and countervailing duty
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THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY RECORD
18 APRIL, 2011