Press Release: US Byrd Amendment Dispute: EU requests authorisation to apply sanctions against US

The deadline for the US to bring the Byrd Amendment into conformity with WTO rules expired on 27 December 2003. Given the lack of compliance from the US, the EU requested on 15 January 2004 WTO authorisation to impose sanctions. The move is necessary to safeguard EU rights to retaliate thus defending the interests of EU exporters affected by this measure. The so-called Byrd Amendment mandates the distribution of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties to the companies that have brought the case in the first place and was ruled out illegal by the WTO's Appellate Body in January 2003.

http://ec.europa.eu/comm/trade/issues/bilateral/countries/usa/index_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/comm/trade/issues/bilateral/countries/usa/index_en.htm

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