Source:Susan Kelly, MEATINGPLACE, 1/11/18


Canada on Wednesday requested World Trade Organization (WTO) consultations with the United States over U.S. measures concerning anti-dumping and countervailing duty proceedings, a move Washington called “an ill-advised attack.”

Canada considers the measures relating to U.S. anti-dumping or countervailing duty investigations, reviews or other proceedings inconsistent with U.S. obligations under several WTO agreements, the organization said. The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer called Canada’s claims unfounded.

“Canada’s new request for consultations at the WTO is a broad and ill-advised attack on the U.S. trade remedies system,” Lighthizer said in a statement. “U.S. trade remedies ensure that trade is fair by counteracting dumping or subsidies that are injuring U.S. workers, farmers and manufacturers. Canada’s claims are unfounded and could only lower U.S. confidence that Canada is committed to mutually beneficial trade.”

Other countries, such as China, would primarily benefit if Canada succeeded in its claims, he said.

“If the U.S. removed the orders listed in Canada’s complaint, the flood of imports from China and other countries would negatively impact billions of dollars in Canadian exports to the United States, including nearly $9 billion in exports of steel and aluminum products and more than $2.5 billion in exports of wood and paper products,” Lighthizer said. “Canada’s claims threaten the ability of all countries to defend their workers against unfair trade. Canada’s complaint is bad for Canada.”

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