BNA September 13, 2001
GENEVA--The World Trade Organization canceled a two-day review of U.S. trade policy following the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
The WTO said that as a result of events in the United States, the trade policy review meeting scheduled for Sept. 12 and 14 had been postponed until further notice.
The meeting was set to review the latest WTO overview of developments on the trade front in the United States. WTO trade policy reviews of the United States and other Quad Group members (the European Union, Japan, and Canada) are held on a biennial basis, with the last one for the United States taking place in July 1999.
U.S. Rapped for Farm Help, Steel Protectionism
The WTO report notes that U.S. trade policy reports and practices have remained mostly unchanged since the last review. The report, however, criticizes the United States for increasing government support payments in agriculture as well as for increased protectionism for the U.S. steel industry through the use of antidumping and safeguard measures.
U.S. government support for the agricultural sector almost tripled between 1997 and 2000, with nearly $30 billion made in direct payments to farmers in 2000 alone, the WTO noted. In addition, the number of U.S. antidumping investigations and duty orders has increased since 1998, a large percentage of them involving steel products.
"Contingency measures generate uncertainty for exporters, as well as considerable legal costs in defending against them," the WTO noted.
The report also points out that significant barriers to foreign competition remain in sectors such as textiles and clothing, transportation, and some services sectors. The report in particular highlights continued protectionism for maritime transport, restrictions on foreign ownership in U.S. air carriers, and state restrictions on the provision of insurance.
"The new [Bush] Administration's response to these policy challenges will be important to global trade and welfare," the WTO declared.:
