NEWS RELEASES
November 18, 2005 (3:05 p.m. EST)
No. 224
CANADA WELCOMES VOTE BY U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AS KEY STEP TOWARD REPEAL OF BYRD AMENDMENT
International Trade Minister Jim Peterson today issued the following statement on
behalf of the Government of Canada following an important development towards the
repeal of the Byrd Amendment. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its
version of the budget reconciliation bill, which contains a provision to repeal the Byrd
Amendment.
“Canada and a host of other countries have called on the U.S. to repeal Byrd for some
time now and we are heartened by this news. We hope that the Senate agrees to the
House proposal. Protectionism cannot prevail. Protectionism protects no one.”
The Byrd Amendment is a U.S. federal law which allows U.S. producers to receive
anti-dumping and countervailing duties from foreign competitors. Today's action by the
House of Representatives is only one step in the U.S. legal process. In January 2003,
the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that the Byrd Amendment is inconsistent
with U.S. WTO obligations. Canada is urging the United States to repeal this illegal
measure and bring itself into compliance with its international trade obligations. Further
information on the Byrd Amendment and Canada’s retaliation can be found on the
International Trade Canada website at http://www.byrdamendmentdispute.gc.ca.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Jacqueline LaRocque
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Trade
(613) 992-7332
Media Relations Office
International Trade Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
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