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WTO ruling a win-win for US metals industry

February 02, 2012 - 02:13 GMT Location: New York

KEYWORDS: WTO , Roger Schagrin , AISI , export restraints , coke , bauxite , magnesium , zinc

A World Trade Organization (WTO) appeals panel ruling that China unfairly limited exports of raw materials is good news for the U.S. metals industry, regardless of China’s reaction, according to U.S. executives.

The WTO panel this week rejected China’s appeal of an earlier ruling against its restrictions on exports of certain forms of bauxite, coke, fluorspar, magnesium, manganese, silicon carbide, silicon metal, yellow phosphorous and zinc (AMM, Jan. 31).

The United States, the European Union and Mexico first argued in 2009 that China’s export restrictions were inconsistent with its international obligations.

"We are very pleased that the appellate body has recognized that China’s restraints on exports fundamentally contravene the obligations China assumed when it joined the WTO," John Surma, chairman of the American Iron and Steel Institute and...

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