Request for Comments and Notice of Public Hearing Concerning China’s Compliance with WTO Commitments

In response to a request from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) hereby submits comments to the interagency Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) regarding China's compliance with the commitments it made upon its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001. Of the categories listed in USTR's request, these comments particularly relate to import regulation, export regulation, internal policies affecting trade, and other WTO commitments. AISI serves as the voice of the American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI's membership is comprised of integrated and electric arc furnace steelmakers, and associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. Despite over two decades having now passed since it acceded to the WTO, China continues to fail to comply with its WTO obligations. There is a broad, international consensus, based on an overwhelming amount of evidence, that China has largely abandoned its policy of liberalizing its economy and instead continues to adhere to a policy of state capitalism that is antithetical to the principles of free and fair trade. AISI strongly urges the Biden administration to take action to hold China accountable for its trade-distorting policies and practices by reinforcing the trade actions taken by the previous administration that aimed to counter China's export-driven economic policies that adversely impact U.S. steelmakers.