Washington, D.C., partner Elliot Feldman, leader of Baker Hostetler's international trade practice, was quoted in the September 9, 2009, Bloomberg News article, "U.S. Steel Pushes Obama to Choose Workers Over Trade."
According to the article, the Obama administration must decide which path to take regarding two of the biggest U.S. trade cases against China. U.S. Steel Corp. and the United Steelworkers union are behind a complaint on imported pipe and the union, an Obama political ally, is also pushing for curbs on Chinese auto tires. The U.S. International Trade Commission, an independent body, has ruled against Chinese importers in both cases. Because the complaints were brought under different provisions of trade law, the Commerce Department has the final say over tariffs on the pipe, used in oil and gas drilling, and Obama will make the call on tires. The decisions may help shape the future of U.S.-China commercial relations, according to the article.
The U.S. and China may negotiate a "politically sensitive settlement" to avert the International Trade Commission's recommendation for duties of 55 percent on Chinese tire imports, said Feldman. "The president understands the fundamentals of free trade," Feldman, who writes a blog on China trade. The tire companies are shifting production abroad, "and saying that is like waving a red flag in front of a Democratic president."
Click to read the full article from the Bloomberg website.