U.S. Gains a Delay on New Customs Duties
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
The U.S. won approval from trade partners, including the European Union and Japan, to postpone a ruling that exposes $2.3 billion in American exports to extra customs duties, the WTO said, signaling the U.S. may end illegal steel tariffs.
World Trade Organization governments were due Monday to ratify a Nov. 10 WTO ruling rejecting a U.S. appeal to an earlier finding that the steel duties are illegal. Once adopted, the ruling will trigger EU retaliation five days later.
At the Bush administration’s request, the complainants in the case agreed to delay adopting the judgment until Dec. 10.
