Trade Remedies and Relief from Foreign Competition

This chapter describes the legal framework that allows firms to petition the government for the imposition of tariffs on competing imports. It introduces the antidumping law as the most commonly used measure to block unfair imports. It talks about the government's definition of “dumping” as a lower price charged in the United States than in a foreign exporter's home market. The chapter also examines the case for providing domestic industries with temporary relief from imports so that they can adjust to foreign competition, including the recently revived “national security” rationale for limiting imports. It looks at countervailing duties, which address foreign subsidies and escape clause, and provide industries with temporary relief from imports without the claim of unfairness.