WTO rules against US anti-dumping act

摘要

As expected, a World Trade Organisation dispute settlement panel has ruled that the USA's controversial Anti-dumping Act of 1916 violates WTO trade strictures. The US government could appeal against last Friday's decision.The 1916 law, which some consider outdated and blatantly protectionist, has been used in recent years by Geneva Steel and Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel to file private lawsuits against major global traders like Thyssen, TradeArbed and Duferco.Wheeling-Pittsburgh said the WTO ruling raises sovereignty issues that could lead to an appeal. The West Virginia steelmaker filed the private lawsuits against nine trading companies in January 1999, alleging they violated the 1916 act by bringing steel into the USA with the purpose of injuring US producers.