US wins case in steel dispute with China

“Today’s victory is important not only for steelworkers in Pennsylvania and Ohio, but also for American farmers and workers in other sectors that export to China,” he said.  

U.S. trade officials said China’s actions reflect a “disturbing trend” on anti-dumping and anti-subsidy laws as a trade policy tool without regard to international rules.”

China based its decision to impose the tariffs on an investigation they argued showed that the 2009 economic stimulus included provisions that subsidized U.S. steel exports through “Buy America” policies.

“China has to play by the rules to which it agreed when it joined the WTO 10 years ago,” a U.S. trade official said. 

Most U.S. manufacturers of GOES are in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and the duties affect a substantial amount of United States trade.

The United States also challenged the manner in which China conducted its investigation, alleging that the country violated numerous procedural and due process obligations, impairing the ability of the United States and U.S. companies to defend their interests.  

The United States also alleged that China’s finding of injury to its domestic industry was unsupported by the evidence on the record.

House Ways and Means Committee ranking member Sander Levin (D-Mich.) and Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) applauded the decision. 

“I commend the administration for successfully challenging China’s retaliatory actions, and for standing up to China’s blatant disregard for the rules of fair trade and its WTO commitments,” Levin said in a statement. 

“China must act as a responsible stakeholder in the global trading system and this decision illustrates the importance of aggressively acting to rein in China’s abusive trade practices.”

McDermott focused on the Obama administration’s work to expand trade as part of its job creation efforts.

“In the current political environment where Republicans have consistently refused to help create jobs, the president is focused on increasing our exports and a strong trade policy to grow American businesses and create jobs,” he said. 

“This WTO decision is very important. It sends the message that the United States won’t let China impose unfair and illegal penalties against U.S. goods and that the Obama administration is going to defend a fair playing field for American businesses.”