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AISI Comments on Breakdown of Doha Round Talks

07/31/2008 - AISI comments on this week’s breakdown of the Doha Round Talks in Geneva, emphasizing the support of the American steel producers for the actions of Ambassador Schwab and her negotiating team.

America’s steel producers support the decision of Ambassador Schwab and her negotiating team in the recent breakdown of the WTO Doha Round Ministerial trade talks in Geneva, according to a published announcement from Andrew G. Sharkey III, President and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI).
 

“AISI and its U.S. member companies remain committed to a rules-based world trading system in which there is genuine, reciprocal free trade and the disciplines against dumping, government subsidization and other trade-distorting practices are enhanced, not weakened.”
 
Andrew G. Sharkey III
AISI President and CEO
According to AISI, the reported reason for Tuesday’s breakdown of the WTO Doha Round Ministerial trade talks was the effort by the governments of China and India to push for a trade-chilling version of a “special safeguard” provision for surges of imports of agricultural products into developing countries.

 
“America's steel producers support the decision of Ambassador Schwab and her negotiating team to recognize the futility of further talks at the Ministerial level at this time,” stated Sharkey. “This was the right decision not only because of the circumstances of this particular unacceptable proposal in the area of agricultural trade, but also because of the continued unwillingness of many advanced developing countries to agree to ambitious market access outcomes for trade in industrial products, such as the steel-containing goods produced by our U.S. customers.”
 
“At the same time,” continued Sharkey, “it is essential to point out that China, India, and many other countries have been trying to use the Doha Round negotiations to weaken dramatically the existing international disciplines, and U.S. laws, against dumped and subsidized imports. The world trading system cannot be sustained by agreements that result in ever-higher trade surpluses for some countries, an ever-wider trade deficit for the United States and a diminished effectiveness of rules-based global trade.
 
“AISI and its U.S. member companies remain committed to a rules-based world trading system in which there is genuine, reciprocal free trade and the disciplines against dumping, government subsidization and other trade-distorting practices are enhanced, not weakened.”  
 
AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the material of choice. AISI plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. The Institute comprises 28 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 138 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.