OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C.
20508
 
USTR Press Releases are available on the USTR website at www.ustr.gov.
For Immediate Release:                 
August 31, 2004   

Contact:       Christopher Padilla

(202) 395-3230

Statement of USTR Spokesman Christopher Padilla on World Trade
Organization (WTO) Arbitrators' Determination on the "Byrd Amendment"

The United States is committed to trade policies that ensure a level playing field for American workers and farmers.  Today's determination will not affect the ability of the United States to continue enforcing its trade laws to impose duties on countries that sell unfairly dumped or subsidized products in the U.S. market.  The Byrd Amendment simply deals with how the funds collected from such duties are disbursed by the Treasury.  The United States will comply with its WTO obligations, and the Administration will work closely with Congress to do so in a way that supports American jobs and American workers.

Some foreign countries claimed that U.S. trade laws like the Byrd Amendment cause them significant economic damage, but the panel of arbitrators at the WTO agreed with the United States that those claims were grossly exaggerated.  While the arbitrators' determinations fell far short of the amount requested by the complaining parties, the United States remains committed to resolving this issue in a way that promotes the competitiveness of American workers.  ###