FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact:	Ashley Hutto
July 17, 2009		Tel. (202) 828-7637
		ashley.hutto@bgllp.com

CITAC COMMENDS USTR ENFORCEMENT INITIATIVE;
URGES U.S. TO HONOR ITS OWN WTO COMMITMENTS

Washington, DC - The Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition (CITAC) today commended remarks by United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk outlining the Administration's commitment to expanding international trade while enhancing U.S. trade enforcement activities. As an “appropriate” starting point for this effort, CITAC urged the Obama administration to renew its commitment to U.S. trading obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO), including discontinuing the use of measures that employ WTOinconsistent techniques such as zeroing in antidumping cases by the Department of Commerce.

Zeroing has been condemned in every dispute settlement case in which the issue has arisen. In May, the WTO Appellate Body ruled that the U.S. government’s continued use of zeroing in antidumping cases runs contrary to its WTO obligations, clearing the way for the European Union, Japan and Mexico to retaliate against U.S. exports, possibly later this year.

"We applaud the initiative outlined today by Ambassador Kirk to ferret out foreign government practices that frustrate trade benefits for U.S. businesses and consumers," said Lewis Leibowitz, CITAC Counsel and Partner at Hogan & Hartson, LLP. "Yet in order to convince other countries to keep the channels of trade flowing freely, the U.S. must first abide by its own trade commitments as outlined under the WTO. This means implementing the decisions and dispute settlement obligations that we are obligated to follow, such as discontinuing the use of zeroing."

"CITAC is heartened that the Obama administration recognizes that a robust international trade program is key to maximizing benefits for U.S. business," said Eugene Patrone, Executive Director of CITAC. "Just as Ambassador Kirk outlined plans to identify and reduce barriers to U.S. exports in overseas markets, we call on the USTR to reduce barriers to entry for imports of intermediate goods and services into the United States, including steel and other raw materials. Expanding and maintaining productive trade flows is a two-way street, and the U.S. must do its own part in order to convince our trading partners to respond in kind."

For additional information, visit www.citac.info .