AAIA welcomes China WTO review

qiangzi

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

( s% U- {) c" k1 R; s- qBethesda, MD - The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) welcomed a thorough and objective World Trade Organization (WTO) review of the export subsidies China allegedly provides to its auto parts manufacturers. Responding to yesterday’s announcement by U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk that the United States has requested dispute settlement consultations with the government of China at the WTO concerning China’s auto and auto parts “export base” subsidy program, AAIA reiterated its support for the U.S. government’s efforts to confront foreign trade distorting measures, while encouraging the USTR to recognize the increasingly globally integrated nature of the automotive aftermarket and the potential for unintended consequences to a significant sector of the U.S. economy. “AAIA is committed to fairness in the international trading system and supports efforts to ensure that WTO members abide by their commitments,” said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO. “We encourage the USTR to work towards a solution through the bilateral consultation phase of the WTO dispute settlement process in order to avoid a prolonged arbitration and appeal process and potential Chinese retaliation aimed at the U.S. automotive aftermarket.”