05.04.2013 Views

U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement: Potential Economy-wide ... - USITC

U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement: Potential Economy-wide ... - USITC

U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement: Potential Economy-wide ... - USITC

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

United States, Spain, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina. Welch’s commented that Chilean grape<br />

juice began to benefit on January 1, 2007, from preferential tariff treatment under the <strong>Korea</strong>-<br />

Chile FTA, and will become duty-free on January 1, 2011, and that immediate<br />

implementation of the U.S.-<strong>Korea</strong> FTA would allow U.S. grape juice exports to benefit from<br />

immediate duty-free access.<br />

Wellman, Inc. 62<br />

In written and hearing testimony, Wellman, Inc., Fort Mill, SC, a large integrated producer<br />

of polyester staple fibers (PSF) with manufacturing facilities in Alabama and Mississippi,<br />

stated that the immediate elimination of the U.S. tariff on PSF (4.3 percent ad valorem)<br />

under the FTA would “severely damage Wellman” and “the entire national base” of PSF<br />

producers. It added that the FTA “disregards, and in effect obviates, a standing antidumping<br />

order” on imports of PSF from <strong>Korea</strong> and that it “disregards” the U.S. International <strong>Trade</strong><br />

Commission’s 2006 sunset review finding on the industry’s continuing vulnerability. 63<br />

According to Wellman, the FTA would augment <strong>Korea</strong>’s targeting of the U.S. market for its<br />

excess PSF capacity, particularly because all other significant export markets maintain<br />

effective restraints against these <strong>Korea</strong>n exports. 64 Wellman remarked that the FTA would<br />

create a tariff inversion that carries significantly negative, discriminatory effects for U.S.<br />

producers, whereby the FTA would immediately eliminate the U.S. tariff on PSF but phase<br />

out the 6.5 percent U.S. tariff on certain raw materials used in domestic production of PSF<br />

over 10 years (the FTA would eliminate the 5.9 percent <strong>Korea</strong>n tariff on these raw materials<br />

immediately upon its implementation).<br />

The Wine Institute and the California Association of<br />

Winegrape Growers 65<br />

In a written submission to the Commission, the Wine Institute stated it is the public policy<br />

advocacy association of California wineries and that it brings together the resources of over<br />

1,000 wineries and affiliated businesses to support legislative and regulatory advocacy,<br />

international market development, media relations, scientific research, and education<br />

programs that benefit the entire California wine industry. It noted that California represents<br />

more than 90 percent of U.S. wine production and 95 percent of wine exports. The California<br />

Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) stated that it is an advocate for farmers,<br />

providing leadership on public policies, research and education programs, sustainable<br />

farming practices, and trade policy to enhance the California winegrape growing business<br />

and its communities.<br />

62 Michael Bermish, director, Strategic Planning, Wellman, Inc., testimony before the U.S. International<br />

<strong>Trade</strong> Commission, June 20, 2007; and posthearing submission, June 26, 2007.<br />

63 In March 2006, the Commission completed its sunset review of the antidumping orders on certain PSF<br />

from <strong>Korea</strong> and Taiwan, finding that “the domestic industry is vulnerable to the continuation or recurrence of<br />

material injury were the orders to be revoked” (<strong>USITC</strong> Publication 3823).<br />

64 According to Wellman, <strong>Korea</strong>’s PSF is currently subject to antidumping duties of 6.0–13.5 percent in<br />

Japan; 5.7–10.6 percent in the European Union; 3.4–32 percent in Mexico; and up to 34.7 percent in China.<br />

Hearing transcript and attachment to hearing testimony.<br />

65 Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers, written submission,<br />

June 27, 2007.<br />

7-33

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!