United States — Definitive Safeguard Measures on Imports of Certain Steel Products

Summary up-to-date at 30 May 2008  

Consultations requested — no panel established nor settlement notified

Complaint by Chinese Taipei.

On 1 November 2002, Chinese Taipei requested consultations with the United States with regard to safeguard measures on steel imposed by the United States on imports of certain steel products. These measures are currently been reviewed by a Panel in the joint cases WT/DS248, WT/DS249, WT/DS251, WT/DS252, WT/DS253, WT/DS254, WT/DS258, WT/DS259. Chinese Taipei is a third party in these proceedings.

This dispute concerns the definitive safeguard measures imposed by the United States in the form of an increase in duties on imports of certain flat steel, hot-rolled bar, cold-finished bar, rebar, certain tubular products, carbon and alloy fittings and flanges, stainless steel bar, stainless steel rod, tin mill products and stainless steel wire, and in the form of a tariff rate quota on imports of slabs. These measures were published in the Proclamation 7529, dated 5 March 2002 (Federal Register Vol. 67, No 45 of 7 March 2002). Chinese Taipei considers that these measures are in violation of the United States obligations under Articles I:1 and XIX:1(a) of the GATT 1994 and Articles 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 4.1(c), 4.2(a), 4.2(b) and 5.1 of the Agreement on Safeguards.

On 21 November 2002, Japan requested to join the consultations. The United States informed that DSB that it accepted the request of Japan to join the consultations.