The Clinton Administration is accusing 55 countries of erecting unfair trade barriers that US officials contend are costing billions of dollars in lost sales for American workers. The country drawing the largest attention was Japan, followed by the 15-nation European Union.
The Administration's allegations were contained in a 434-page "Foreign Trade Barriers" report that said American manufacturers were being discriminated against. The Administration will select a smaller number of "priority" countries for investigations that could lead to filing of cases with the WTO.
On another front, the Administration is reviewing a WTO challenge to an American law used to combat low-priced steel imports. "There may be an appeal," a senior trade official said. A WTO panel concluded that the 1916 Anti-dumping Act violated international trade rules. Because it allowed for fines and imprisonment in addition to the payment of damages by companies found guilty of dumping. Under WTO rules, import tariffs are the only remedies allowed to combat dumping. The Administration's decision whether to appeal the decision will be made soon.
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