Trade Remedy Law Reform in the 108th Congress (CRS Report for Congress)
Premium Purchase PDF for $24.95 (15 pages)
add to cart or
subscribe for unlimited access
Pro Premium subscribers have free access to our full library of CRS reports.
Subscribe today, or
request a demo to learn more.
| Release Date |
Revised July 22, 2003 |
| Report Number |
RL30461 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
William H. Cooper, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
-
Premium Revised Sept. 27, 2002 (14 pages, $24.95)
add
-
Premium April 20, 2002 (14 pages, $24.95)
add
|
Summary:
Trade remedies are government measures to minimize the adverse impact of imports on domestic
industries. Antidumping duties are used to counter the effects of imports sold at unfairly low prices
on the domestic market. Countervailing duties are used to counter the price effects of imports that
benefit from government subsidies in the exporting countries. Safeguard remedies (also called
Section 201 and escape clause remedies) are used to reduce the injurious impact of surges in fairly
trade imports.
Some of the bills introduced in the 108th Congress would revise safeguard remedies. Others
would change antidumping and countervailing-duty remedies. The congressional proposals follow
different approaches to the same goal -- to ease the procedural burden in obtaining relief and
improve the chances that U.S. industries would obtain relief. In so doing, the legislation would
make it less likely that industries would press Congress to directly restrict imports through
protectionist legislation.
The 106th Congress did pass one change to U.S. trade remedy law, the so-called Byrd
amendment. The 107th Congress did not act on trade remedy legislation, but treatment of trade
remedy laws in trade negotiations was a major point of contention during the debate over legislation
to grant the President trade promotion authority. Several bills that would amend U.S. trade remedy
laws have been introduced in the 108th Congress.
Trade remedy legislation is largely supported by those industries, such as steel, that are most
sensitive to foreign competition. The legislation is generally opposed by those industries and groups
that use imports as inputs or consume them as final products. Increased trade relief would likely
result in higher prices to these latter groups. This report will be revised as congressional action
warrants.
