USW Praises USTR Decision To Accept Its Petition

The United Steelworkers (USW) has praised the decision by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to accept the USW's petition under Section 301 of the trade law seeking the elimination of Chinese policies and practices that adversely affect U.S. producers and their workers in the clean energy sector.

‘The administration's decision today starts an intense process designed to resolve our concerns about China's vast array of policies and practices that they have assembled to dominate the alternative and renewable energy sector,’ says Leo W. Gerard, international president of the USW.

As required by the underlying 301 statute, the Office of the USTR appropriately consulted with the USW about delaying the start of consultations by up to 90 days ‘for the purpose of verifying or improving the petition to ensure an adequate basis for consultation’. This delay has been utilized in other 301 actions in the past, according to the USW.

SOURCE: The United Steelworkers