USTR Requests Comments on WTO Dispute Over Revised CV Determinations on Certain Steel Products/Plate from the EC
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice stating that, at the request of the European Communities (EC), a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel (DSP) has been established to examine certain revised countervailing (CV) sunset review determinations made by the International Trade Administration (ITA).
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The USTR is requesting comments by January 31, 2005 on this WTO dispute. The DSP is expected to issue a report on its findings and recommendations by May 2005.
EC Claims Certain Revised CV Determinations are WTO Inconsistent
The USTR states that the EC claims that the revised determinations for the following sunset reviews are WTO inconsistent:
Certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products from France (C-427-810). The EC claims that the ITA failed to properly examine the existence, continuation or likelihood of recurrence of subsidization. In particular, with regard to the privatization concerned, the EC alleges that the ITA improperly analysed the consequences of the price charged to employees and retirees for shares in the privatized company.
Cut-to-length carbon steel plate from United Kingdom (C-412-815) and Spain (C-469-804). The EC claims that the ITA failed to properly determine whether there was continuation or recurrence of subsidization and injury because it did not examine the nature of the privatizations in question and their impact on the continuation of the alleged subsidization.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 11/19/03 news, 03111920, for BP summary of the ITA's final revised determinations for these sunset reviews.)
USTR contact - Elizabeth Baltzan (202) 395-3582
USTR notice (FR Pub 12/30/04) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-28626.pdf