Byrd Amendment

The Byrd Amendment, also known as Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 ( CDSOA ), is a federal law of the United States. The name comes from one of its main sponsors, Democratic Senator Robert Byrd of the State of West Virginia. The law regulated the use of new import duties imposed by the U.S. government against dumping. Before the law went into effect, the revenues of customs duties part of the annual government budget were. The law stipulated that these revenues must be distributed now to the U.S. companies that are directly affected by the dumping.

International reaction

The European Commission and seven individual countries - Brazil, Chile, India, Japan, Canada, South Korea and Mexico - lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organization ( WTO). The European Commission found that U.S. companies had received from the Government under the Byrd amendment one billion U.S. dollars from the proceeds of antidumping duties. The WTO declared in 2002 that the Byrd Amendment was illegal and that the European Union ( EU) and the other plaintiffs States could take measures to impose against the United States in penalties of up to 72 % of the distributed customs revenue.

On 4 April 2005, the EU announced that it would begin with the permission of the WTO with limited sanctions against the United States by it imposes an import duty of 15 percent American paper, textiles and machinery from 1 May 2005. These were a direct reaction against the unwillingness of the U.S. government that the Byrd amendment repealed by the WTO decision. Canada also imposed a 15 percent import tax on U.S. cigarettes, oysters and pigs. On 1 September 2005, finally, the Japanese government introduced an import duty of 15 percent of U.S. steel.

Repeal

President George W. Bush had for many years the desire to repeal the Byrd Amendment, but had so little success. After 2005, the economic pressure on the United States again increased, Congress lifted in January 2006 on the law as at 1 October 2007.

  • Source of law (United States)
Act of Congress Dumping (pricing policy)
157013
de