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U.S. scores major trade victory at WTO
In a major victory for the Obama administration and unions, the United States has won final approval from the World Trade Organization to continue slapping high tariffs on Chinese tire imports.
Obama had imposed the penalties for three years in response to a petition filed by the United Steelworkers union and findings by the U.S. International Trade Commission.
“This is a tremendous victory for the United States as well as for American workers and manufacturers. We have said all along that President Obama’s decision to impose duties on Chinese tires was fully consistent with our WTO obligations,” said U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk.
A lower WTO panel last December first denied China's claims that the U.S. tariffs were inconsistent with the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and with China's protocol of accession to the WTO.
On Monday the Appellate Body agreed and determined that the U.S. was correct in all counts.
The U.S. in the case had to show that low cost tires coming in from China were “increasing rapidly” so as to be a “significant cause” of material injury to the domestic tire industry.
Obama spoke at a Detroit union rally on Monday while Biden addressed the AFL-CIO federation, of which the United Steelworkers are a part, in Cincinnati.
United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard reacted to the WTO decision hailed the WTO victory.
“Since relief was granted by the President, the law has had its intended effect,” Gerard said. “Investments in U.S. tire manufacturing are up, jobs have been created and our companies are shipping more tires to consumers. While we still need to accelerate our nation’s economic recovery, the economic benefits of the trade relief are clear and indisputable.”
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