Ralph
05.06.2001, 22:48
..... indem Importrestriktionen aufgebaut werden sollen, was dazu führen könnte, dass es mit der EU und Asien wieder Trouble gibt !
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Bush Asks ITC to Probe Steel Imports
By Doug Palmer
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a bid to help the struggling U.S. steel industry, President Bush said on Tuesday he will ask for an investigation into whether cheap overseas steel was harming domestic producers, a probe that could lead to tighter U.S. restrictions on steel imports.
``I am deeply concerned ... about the situation of the U.S. steel industry,'' Bush told reporters at the White House, announcing his decision to ask the U.S. International Trade Commission for a ``full investigation'' into alleged dumping -- or selling subsidized -- steel.
Acknowledging the potential international ramifications of the move, Bush said he hoped his decision would not anger European leaders ahead of his summit with them next week.
``As you know, I have told the world that we are going to have an active ... internationalist foreign policy with U.S. interests at its heart. And it's in our nation's interest to make sure that if there are unfair trade practices in the steel industry we address them in a very aggressive way,'' Bush said.
The European Union has threatened to take the United States to the World Trade Organization if it imposed new steel import restrictions. EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy will be in Washington on Thursday to press home that point.
U.S. steel producers and steelworkers blame a surge in low-priced, unfairly traded steel imports for 18 bankruptcies in the U.S. steel industry since late 1997. They tried unsuccessfully to persuade former President Bill Clinton to launch a ``section 201'' investigation before he left office.
While dumping is illegal, under section 201 there is no need to prove that trade is unfair -- only that the U.S. industry has been harmed.
A section 201 probe would allow Bush to restrict steel imports for an initial period of up to four years to give the steel industry time to restructure.
Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat, said Bush's decision ``was long overdue, but very welcome.''
``The American steel industry has been decimated by wave after wave of illegal below-cost foreign imports. If we do not act, if we do not take advantage of every law on our books to fight against illegal trade, then we will see our domestic steel industry disappear,'' Byrd said.
LONG LIST OF COUNTRIES POSSIBLY AFFECTED
Depending how a section 201 quota was structured, a long list of countries -- including the 15-member EU, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Mexico, China, Indonesia, Ukraine, India, South Africa and Australia -- could be affected.
During last year's election campaign, Bush's running mate, Dick Cheney, used a stop in Byrd's home state -- traditionally a Democratic stronghold -- to make an issue of the Clinton administration's treatment of the steel industry. Cheney promised the Bush administration would act ``swiftly and firmly'' against unfair imports.
In recent weeks, U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, Commerce Secretary Don Evans and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick have met separately with steel industry executives, steel workers and members of Congress from steel-producing to discuss what steps should be taken.
The decision to launch a section 201 investigation could defuse efforts in Congress to address the steel crisis.
Hundreds of steelworkers are expected in Washington on Wednesday to push for approval of the Steel Revitalization Act, which would establish a 5-year quota on imports at pre-1997 levels and authorize $10 billion in funding for loan program to help the ailing steel industry.
That bill already has more than 210 co-sponsors in the House, just a few short of the 218 needed for approval. Similar legislation has also been introduced in the Senate.
The change in control of the Senate from Republican to Democrat may also have prompted Bush's decision to ask for the import investigation.
==============================
@Lisa, Du hattest dich doch mal mit Stahlwerten beschäftigt, oder ?
Ralph
==============================
Bush Asks ITC to Probe Steel Imports
By Doug Palmer
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a bid to help the struggling U.S. steel industry, President Bush said on Tuesday he will ask for an investigation into whether cheap overseas steel was harming domestic producers, a probe that could lead to tighter U.S. restrictions on steel imports.
``I am deeply concerned ... about the situation of the U.S. steel industry,'' Bush told reporters at the White House, announcing his decision to ask the U.S. International Trade Commission for a ``full investigation'' into alleged dumping -- or selling subsidized -- steel.
Acknowledging the potential international ramifications of the move, Bush said he hoped his decision would not anger European leaders ahead of his summit with them next week.
``As you know, I have told the world that we are going to have an active ... internationalist foreign policy with U.S. interests at its heart. And it's in our nation's interest to make sure that if there are unfair trade practices in the steel industry we address them in a very aggressive way,'' Bush said.
The European Union has threatened to take the United States to the World Trade Organization if it imposed new steel import restrictions. EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy will be in Washington on Thursday to press home that point.
U.S. steel producers and steelworkers blame a surge in low-priced, unfairly traded steel imports for 18 bankruptcies in the U.S. steel industry since late 1997. They tried unsuccessfully to persuade former President Bill Clinton to launch a ``section 201'' investigation before he left office.
While dumping is illegal, under section 201 there is no need to prove that trade is unfair -- only that the U.S. industry has been harmed.
A section 201 probe would allow Bush to restrict steel imports for an initial period of up to four years to give the steel industry time to restructure.
Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat, said Bush's decision ``was long overdue, but very welcome.''
``The American steel industry has been decimated by wave after wave of illegal below-cost foreign imports. If we do not act, if we do not take advantage of every law on our books to fight against illegal trade, then we will see our domestic steel industry disappear,'' Byrd said.
LONG LIST OF COUNTRIES POSSIBLY AFFECTED
Depending how a section 201 quota was structured, a long list of countries -- including the 15-member EU, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Mexico, China, Indonesia, Ukraine, India, South Africa and Australia -- could be affected.
During last year's election campaign, Bush's running mate, Dick Cheney, used a stop in Byrd's home state -- traditionally a Democratic stronghold -- to make an issue of the Clinton administration's treatment of the steel industry. Cheney promised the Bush administration would act ``swiftly and firmly'' against unfair imports.
In recent weeks, U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, Commerce Secretary Don Evans and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick have met separately with steel industry executives, steel workers and members of Congress from steel-producing to discuss what steps should be taken.
The decision to launch a section 201 investigation could defuse efforts in Congress to address the steel crisis.
Hundreds of steelworkers are expected in Washington on Wednesday to push for approval of the Steel Revitalization Act, which would establish a 5-year quota on imports at pre-1997 levels and authorize $10 billion in funding for loan program to help the ailing steel industry.
That bill already has more than 210 co-sponsors in the House, just a few short of the 218 needed for approval. Similar legislation has also been introduced in the Senate.
The change in control of the Senate from Republican to Democrat may also have prompted Bush's decision to ask for the import investigation.
==============================
@Lisa, Du hattest dich doch mal mit Stahlwerten beschäftigt, oder ?
Ralph