Industry News
USTR Seeks Comments on Chinese Export Restraints on Raw Materials in WTO Case
TweetJuly 07, 2009
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has published a notice in the Federal Register seeking comments on its request for World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement consultations with China regarding its export constraints on raw materials. The request alleges that
In its complaint, USTR alleges that export restraints on these raw materials are inconsistent with
- Export duties
- Quantitative restrictions (export quotas)
- Export Duties
- Minimum export price system – requiring the examination and approval of export contracts and export prices.
- Additional administrative barriers to exports.
USTR is alleging that
- bauxite - including, but not limited to Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) numbers 2508.30.0000/2508.30.00, 2606.00.0000/2606.00.00, and 2620.40.00;
- coke - including, but not limited to HTS 2704.00.1000/2704.00.10;
- fluorspar - including, but not limited to HTS 2529.21.0000/2529.21.00 and 2529.22.0000/2529.22.00;
- magnesium - including, but not limited to HTS 8104.11.00, 8104.19.00, 8104.20.00,
- manganese - including, but not limited to HTS 2602.00.00, 8111.00.1010/8111.00.10, and 8111.00.1090/8111.00.10;
- silicon carbide - including but not limited to HTS 2849.20.0000 and 3824.90.9910;
- silicon metal - including but not limited to HTS 2804.69.00;
- yellow phosphorus - including but not limited to HTS 2804.70.10;
- zinc - including but not limited to HTS 2608.00.0001/2608.00.00, 2608.00.0090/2608.00.00, 7901.11.9000/7901.11.90, 7901.12.0000/7901.12.00, 7901.20.0000/7901.20.00, 7902.00.00, 2620.11.00, and 2620.19.00.
USTR will consider all comments filed by July 31, 2009, on any aspect of its WTO complaint