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USW Urges U.S. to Reject Latest Doha Paper for WTO Rules
12/30/2008 - USW issues statement calling on the Bush administration's top negotiators in the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization to reject the latest draft rules, which undermine U.S. trade laws on illegal dumping and subsidies.
United Steelworkers (USW) President Leo W. Gerard has issued a statement calling on the Bush administration's top negotiators in the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to again reject the latest draft rules, which undermine U.S. trade laws on illegal dumping and subsidies and weaken the country’s defense against predatory trade practices.
According to Gerard, the proposed WTO rules would weaken U.S. trade remedies and workers jobs. In a letter to Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez, U.S. Department of Commerce and Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, U.S. Trade Representative, Gerard declared: "We will actively oppose ongoing efforts by some of our trading partners to cripple our economy and our rights to seek redress."
"The USW views as essential to any forward movement in multilateral negotiations the much-needed rebalancing of the WTO trade remedy agreements to correct the abuses of the appellate body in imposing obligations never agreed by the United States and in ensuring that our laws are preserved and strengthened," wrote Gerard.
The USW has pledged to work with the incoming Obama Administration and Congress to strengthen trade laws against unfair imports to benefit domestic workers. "Trade remedies that ensure conditions of fair competition in the U.S. are vital to our members' livelihood in numerous manufacturing sectors," said Gerard.
"When companies and workers face unfair trade in the form of dumping or subsidization, our members are the first to suffer the serious harm that follows. Companies are then forced to reduce payroll, cut jobs and benefits and — worst of all — stop investing in their future in the U.S."
A strong statement of disappointment has already been issued regarding the WTO draft rules paper that was released on Dec. 18, 2008. The U.S. government cited the draft’s complete failure to address an overreach by decisions of the WTO appellate body on the right of member countries to assess duties on 100% of the dumping orders on imports.
Last December, the USW had protested a similar rules proposal by the WTO rules language, objecting to trading partners’ persistent efforts aimed at undermining the mandate set out by Congress in the Trade Act of 2002 to avoid agreements that lessen the effectiveness of domestic and international rules on unfair trade, especially for dumping and subsidies.
Gerard pointed out specific problems with the WTO rules text, commenting that there has never been a time when effective trade remedies are more important to USW workers and domestic manufacturers.
Representing over 850,000 workers, the USW is the largest industrial union in North America.
