Under Secretary for International Trade Speaks to AISI Board of Directors

Frank Lavin, undersecretary for international trade at the International Trade Administration (ITA), spoke at AISI's Board of Directors Meeting on February 7. In his address to the Board, Lavin focused on World Trade Organization (WTO) subsidies cases, in particular, on China.

Lavin highlighted the fact that the Chinese government is providing subsidies to its steel industry, which violates World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. This fuels an excessive expansion of that sector, negatively affecting the North American steel industry.

"We have tried to secure China's compliance with its WTO obligations to eliminate these prohibited subsidies. This has not produced the results we desire," Lavin said. "Therefore, the Bush administration has filed a case with the WTO . . . If the results we desire are not forthcoming, we will move to a panel and formal adjudication."

In his concluding remarks, Lavin praised the steel industry for making tremendous strides in productivity, reformulating products and re-engineering steel companies. He went on to explain that as challenges face the industry, ITA will be there to help the industry by "enhancing the environment for American companies on the global stage."

Lavin was sworn in as the nation's tenth under secretary for international trade on November 2, 2005. As Under Secretary, Lavin oversees the ITA, an agency responsible for developing U.S. trade policy, identifying and resolving market access issues, administering U.S. trade laws, enhancing the global competitiveness of the U.S. manufacturing and services sectors and coordinating U.S. trade advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. business. For more information, contact Barry Solarz.