The Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA) has denounced a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) decision, charging that it is an intrusion on US sovereignty and lacks
support in the international agreements. SSINA urged the US to reject the decision, which faults Commerce Department subsidy findings in 12 cases. A 9 December ruling issued by the WTO Appellate Body stated that the USA breached its international obligations by imposing countervailing duties based on subsidies given to various European steel producers that were later privatised. SSINA contends that the WTO analysis is fundamentally flawed and portends substantial, negative ramifications for both present and future investigations of subsidised steel companies. SSINA is urging the US to announce that it will refuse to implement the decision. SSINA counsel David A. Hartquist said: “A finding that the privatisation of a steel company eliminates all past subsidies is simply an invitation for foreign governments to subsidise companies prior to sale.”
