Today’s News: WTO Rules in Favor of US in Trade Dispute with China
Oct 19, 2012 Issues: Labor and Jobs, Foreign Affairs
Good news for American manufacturing today--the World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled against a Chinese appeal of a trade dispute with the U.S. The decision puts an end to the trade dispute filed by the U.S. in 2010 over antidumping and countervailing duties imposed by China on US exports of high tech grain oriented flat-rolled electrical steel(GOES), which is used in high efficiency transformers and electrical generators among other pieces of high-technology equipment,. The duties crippled US exports of the steel, causing a striking drop in total exports of this material from $270 million in 2008 to just $3 million last year.
The decision by the WTO is a major victory for American manufacturers, and will allow our producers of GOES to remain competitive on the global market. The decision is the latest positive step in the Obama administration’s effort to combat unfair Chinese economic policies and promote U.S. global competiveness abroad.
A report from The Hill stated:
“The U.S. has won cases on intellectual property rights that would further open China's financial services market and it continues to press Beijing to ease export restrictions on rare earth materials needed for electronics such as cell phones. Obama also created a new interagency trade enforcement unit to investigate and file more trade cases, against China or other nations that don't comply with global trade rules.”
The report also quotes US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, an Obama appointee:
“The Obama administration will not stand by and allow China to break international trade rules…Today we are again plainly stating that we will continue to take every step necessary to ensure that China plays by the rules and does not unfairly restrict exports of US products.”
These tough minded policies advanced by President Obama are critical in the effort to create a level playing field that will allow U.S. businesses and workers to succeed. That’s also why I’ve been working with local manufacturers like USS-Posco in support of the effort to stop China from manipulating its currency to give its manufacturers an advantage.
Read the full story here.
