USW Seeks To Pressure EU Over China Market Status In TTIP Talks

摘要

The United Steelworkers (USW) union is urging the Obama administration to use the ongoing Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks as an avenue to exert pressure on the European Union to refrain from granting China market economy status late next year when a key part of its World Trade Organization accession protocol expires. In a letter sent Oct. 26 to U.S. Trade Representative Michael, Froman, USW President Leo Gerard cited reports that the European Commission is considering granting China market economy status at that time. Gerard argued that if the EU grants China market economy status, it may lead to greater unfair Chinese imports into the EU market and result in "dramatically lower opportunities for the export of America's manufactured products." He also said that EU manufacturers could be able to access Chinese inputs more cheaply, meaning that EU exporters would be better able to muscle out competitors on the U.S. market as well.