The United Steelworkers of America condemned a World Trade Organization ruling against emergency steel tariffs as ?the latest example of unelected trade bureaucrats undermining national sovereignty and long-established safeguard provisions of global trade agreements." The decision is another setback for Minnesota's troubled taconite industry.
?How long will we allow our laws to be violated before we recognize that the WTO is pre-empting national sovereignty and the right of the President to defend the country's economic security?? asked Leo Gerard, USWA international president.
The ruling, issued Friday, said U.S. trade protections for the domestic steel industry constitute an unfair barrier to trade. The U.S. government said it will appeal.
?WTO dispute settlement panels have struck down every safeguard measure to come before them, imposed by any country,? Gerard noted, adding that the American steel industry had brought 136 different cases before the International Trade Commission, ?and in almost every one of them, some violation of our trade laws was proved."
The steel tariffs prevent foreign countries from dumping steel on the U.S. market at prices below the cost of production. The Section 201 tariff measures are an integral part of President Bush's Steel Program, and must therefore remain in place despite this negative WTO ruling, the USWA said.
Five Minnesota taconite plants are struggling economically, with their fate closely tied to that of the domestic steel industry. A sixth mine, Eveleth Taconite, closed in May. Thousands of taconite workers have lost their jobs in the last 15 years due to unfair imports, the union said.
Steelworkers District 11, which represents northern Minnesota taconite workers, has repeatedly called on lawmakers, including President Bush and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, to take action to prevent further job loss.
?It is the sworn duty of the President of the United States to defend America?s sovereignty and economic security,? Gerard said. ?Unless President Bush stands his ground on this issue, he will be abdicating that role and ceding our national sovereignty to the unelected ?world government? of the WTO.?
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The United Steelworkers of America condemned a World Trade Organization ruling against emergency steel tariffs as ?the latest example of unelected trade bureaucrats undermining national sovereignty and long-established safeguard provisions of global trade agreements.” The decision is another setback for Minnesota’s troubled taconite industry.
?How long will we allow our laws to be violated before we recognize that the WTO is pre-empting national sovereignty and the right of the President to defend the country’s economic security?? asked Leo Gerard, USWA international president.
The ruling, issued Friday, said U.S. trade protections for the domestic steel industry constitute an unfair barrier to trade. The U.S. government said it will appeal.
?WTO dispute settlement panels have struck down every safeguard measure to come before them, imposed by any country,? Gerard noted, adding that the American steel industry had brought 136 different cases before the International Trade Commission, ?and in almost every one of them, some violation of our trade laws was proved.”
The steel tariffs prevent foreign countries from dumping steel on the U.S. market at prices below the cost of production. The Section 201 tariff measures are an integral part of President Bush’s Steel Program, and must therefore remain in place despite this negative WTO ruling, the USWA said.
Five Minnesota taconite plants are struggling economically, with their fate closely tied to that of the domestic steel industry. A sixth mine, Eveleth Taconite, closed in May. Thousands of taconite workers have lost their jobs in the last 15 years due to unfair imports, the union said.
Steelworkers District 11, which represents northern Minnesota taconite workers, has repeatedly called on lawmakers, including President Bush and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, to take action to prevent further job loss.
?It is the sworn duty of the President of the United States to defend America?s sovereignty and economic security,? Gerard said. ?Unless President Bush stands his ground on this issue, he will be abdicating that role and ceding our national sovereignty to the unelected ?world government? of the WTO.?