World Trade Organization

Little Hope of Progress in Crucial WTO Round Expected at December Meeting

Agence France Presse | Dec. 7, 2003 GENEVA (AFP) - Attempts to get countries back to the negotiating table to relaunch WTO trade talks by a December 15 deadline are in trouble, and diplomats doubt much progress will be made until next year at the earliest.

Bush Decides to Lift Steep Steel Tariffs

Associated Press | By Martin Crutsinger | Dec. 4, 2003 WASHINGTON - Facing the threat of a trade war, President Bush has decided to lift steep tariffs he imposed on foreign steel 20 months ago, Republican and industry officials said Thursday.

Bush Raises Steel Money Before Tariff Decision

Reuters | By Randall Mikkelsen | Dec. 2, 2003 PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - President Bush picked up $850,000 in campaign contributions in America's steel industry heartland on Tuesday even as he prepared to lift tariffs that have been helping steelmakers.

Bush, in ""Steel City,"" Skips the ""T"" Word

Los Angeles Times | By Maura Reynolds and Richard Simon | Dec. 3, 2003 PITTSBURGH - Here in "Steel City," President Bush didn't say a word in public Tuesday about the hot political issue of the day: his expected decision to lift the tariffs he imposed on imported steel last year.

Slouching Toward A Trade War?

BusinessWeek | By Paul Magnusson and Rich Miller in Washington, with Dexter Roberts in Beijing, Michael Arndt in Chicago, and Marcia Vickers in New York | Dec. 1, 2003

Bush Avoids Talk of Tariffs in Speech to Auto Workers

Los Angeles Times | By Edwin Chen and Warren Vieth | Dec. 2, 2003 CANTON, Mich. - President Bush pivoted from Iraq to the economy on Monday but, in a speech to auto workers, offered no hint of his coming decision on the issue foremost on the minds of his audience: whether he will extend his tariffs on imported steel.

WTO: Japan""s Rules on U.S. Apples Unfair

Associated Press | Dec. 1, 2003 WASHINGTON - U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick welcomed on Monday a decision last week by a World Trade Organization appeals panel that Japan's restrictions on American apples were illegal.

European Commission Says No Sign of US Steel Tariffs Lifting

Agence France Presse | Dec. 1, 2003 BRUSSELS (AFP) - The European Commission said it had yet to be notified by the United States that Washington was lifting its controversial steel import tariffs, deemed illegal by the World Trade Organization.

Advisers Urge Bush to Drop Steel Tariffs

Associated Press | By Lara Jakes Jordan | Dec. 1, 2003 WASHINGTON - Top White House advisers are recommending that President Bush roll back steep tariffs on foreign-made steel to avoid a global trade war, administration and industry officials said Monday.

US Wins Extra Time before WTO Adopts Ruling against Steel Tariffs

Agence France Presse | Nov. 28, 2003 GENEVA (AFP) - The European Union and seven other countries have agreed to delay the adoption of a WTO ruling against US steel tariffs, in a possible sign that Washington is preparing to drop the measures and avoid retaliatory sanctions, officials indicated.