China is strongly concerned over the recent support measures
suggested by the US International Trade Commission (USITC) in the
201 steel case. The USITC published the suggested measures
concerning imported steel products based on Section 201 on December
7, which will be referred to President Bush soon, said Gao Yan,
spokeswoman of the Chinese
Ministry of
Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) Thursday in
Beijing.
Gao pointed out that most of the USITC members suggested to carry
on the high import duty and tariff quota on the steel products
under investigation, which have lasted four years already. The
Chinese government is very concerned about this suggestion and the
possible result of the 201 investigation.
According to Gao, the Chinese side holds that the USITC suggestion
will bar the steel products of other countries from entering the US
market.
Such a barrier would run counter to the policy of trade
liberalization advocated by the World Trade Organization, and it
will not only influence the stability of international trade order
under the present conditions of slowed world economic development,
but also harm the healthy growth of the US steel enterprises in
international competition, said Gao.
On
June 28 this year, the USITC started to investigate four steel
products imported from countries and regions including China. The
four steel products are carbon-alloy steel bars, carbon-alloy steel
plates, carbon-alloy steel tubes and stainless alloy tool
steel.
The investigation was carried out according to the Section 201 of
the US 1974 international trade law, aiming to determine whether
the imported products would threaten or harm the relevant US
domestic industries.
Gao noted that China has always objected any form of trade
protectionism, and is unwilling to see the normal international
trade disturbed by improper trade policies and measures. She added
that the Chinese government will closely follow the issue, and said
that she hoped that the US side would further consider the stances
of China and other countries, and handle the issue properly.
China was seriously concerned about the US investigation of China's
steel products even before the latest development, it is
learned.
(People's
Daily December 14, 2001)