The World Trade Organization granted authorization Friday to the European Union, Japan, Canada, Korea, Mexico, India, and Chile, to slap retaliatory sanctions if the U.S. fails to repeal the Byrd amendment. Washington insiders close to influential members of Congress, however, say it's not likely the Byrd amendment will be repealed soon. Failure by U.S. to act could, say trade diplomats, escalate trade tensions with major partners and also sour the atmosphere in the Doha round of liberalization talks. It's estimated U.S. products could be, based on the latest year, subject to punitive tariffs totaling $150 million with Japan and the EU accounting for the largest share with about $78 million and $50 million in damages, respectively. U.S. products on the indicative hit lists of Japan, the EU, Korea, and Canada for example, include, among other: textiles and apparel, cement, base metals, paper, electrical machinery and vehicles, crane lorries, prefabricated buildings, photocopying apparatus, paper products, ceramics, furniture, air conditioning machines, beer whiskies, and fish.
The Byrd amendment, named after its sponsor Sen. Robert Byrd, a powerful West Virginia Democrat, penalizes foreign companies that compete unfairly in the U.S. market by dumping goods -- selling at below cost or fair value -- or receiving subsidies. But the measure was found in violation of global trade rules by a WTO panel in September 2002 and upheld in an appellate ruling in January 2003. |