NAFTA moves

摘要

US steelmakers are anxious to show that the problem is not confined to them. Both Canada and Mexico make use of anti-dumping measures to protect their steelmakers, so the US caucus organised a summit of NAFTA politicians and steelmakers on Capitol Hill to devise a common strategy for their trading area. The Mexican steel industry has been eager to open dialogue for a special reason: steelmakers south of the border fear that the immediate effect of the next round of US constraints on imports will be the diversion of tonnage to Mexico. The country has its own version of Section 201 powers, which can be invoked with immediate effect. a Mexican delegate told that meeting that steelmakers were already concerned at a surge in imports and would decide during May whether to make use of the protective legislation.One outcome of the meeting has been that the US Congress may soon have a bill to introduce a version of the Canadian import licensing system. This originated as a means to provide early warning of disruptive trading - allowed under WTO rules as long as it not itself a restraint on imports. The Commerce Department, which is responsible for the initial stages of anti-dumping investigations, would administer it. It is expected to oppose the bill, on the grounds that it would be followed by similar proposals from every industrial interest group in the country.