U.S. Department of Commerce denies Belarus request to change non-market economy status
<p> MINSK, Oct 21 - PrimePress. The U.S. Commerce Department denied on Tuesday a request by Belarus to withdraw Washington’s determination that the country is a non-market economy (NME), which would affect how dumping cases are handled, reads the statement posted on the official website of the Department on October 19, 2020. </p> <p> </p> <p> “As a result of today’s determination, Commerce will continue to treat Belarus as an NME for purposes of calculating dumping margins in Commerce’s antidumping cases,” the Commerce Department says. </p> <p> </p> <p> Commerce’s determination stems from a request by the government of Belarus for Commerce to reexamine its status as an NME. The government of Belarus made this request in the context of changed circumstances reviews of the U.S. antidumping orders on imports of steel concrete reinforcing bars and alloy steel wire rod from Belarus. </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported, seeking the market economy status, the government of Belarus instructed the Economy Ministry in October 2019 to handle technicalities, hired American Crowell&Moring lobbyists and filed an application for a revision of the NME status with the U.S. Department of Commerce in December 2019. </p> <p> </p> <p> In February 2020, the latter analyzed changed circumstances to assess Belarus’ foreign exchange transactions, the investment regime, labor regulation, state property, the progress in negotiations on Belarus’ accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), etc. </p> <p> </p> <p> The Economy Ministry of Belarus stated that national economic policy had been consistent with market principles for years, therefore, so the revision of the status would just formalize the actual state of affairs. Alongside obvious economic benefits, in the context of the normalization of Belarusian-American relations, the revision would help build Belarus’ positive image in international trade, the ministry said. </p> <p> </p> <p> The market economy status provides some preferences to national exporters, among other things, by eliminating discriminatory approaches in the application of regulatory customs and tariff measures to some types of Belarusian products, including discriminatory anti-dumping duties. Also, this status would expedite Belarus’ accession to the WTO. </p> <p> </p> <p> Belarusian-American relations worsened after the presidential election in Belarus held on August 9, 2020. Washington dismissed it as rigged and, in early October, imposed personal sanctions against eight Belarusian officials responsible “for electoral fraud and human rights violations.” End </p>
2020-10-22
Primepress
MINSK, Oct 21 - PrimePress. The U.S. Commerce Department denied on Tuesday a request by Belarus to withdraw Washington’s determination that the country is a non-market economy (NME), which would affect how dumping cases are handled, reads the statement posted on the official website of the Department on October 19, 2020.
“As a result of today’s determination, Commerce will continue to treat Belarus as an NME for purposes of calculating dumping margins in Commerce’s antidumping cases,” the Commerce Department says.
Commerce’s determination stems from a request by the government of Belarus for Commerce to reexamine its status as an NME. The government of Belarus made this request in the context of changed circumstances reviews of the U.S. antidumping orders on imports of steel concrete reinforcing bars and alloy steel wire rod from Belarus.
As previously reported, seeking the market economy status, the government of Belarus instructed the Economy Ministry in October 2019 to handle technicalities, hired American Crowell&Moring lobbyists and filed an application for a revision of the NME status with the U.S. Department of Commerce in December 2019.
In February 2020, the latter analyzed changed circumstances to assess Belarus’ foreign exchange transactions, the investment regime, labor regulation, state property, the progress in negotiations on Belarus’ accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), etc.
The Economy Ministry of Belarus stated that national economic policy had been consistent with market principles for years, therefore, so the revision of the status would just formalize the actual state of affairs. Alongside obvious economic benefits, in the context of the normalization of Belarusian-American relations, the revision would help build Belarus’ positive image in international trade, the ministry said.
The market economy status provides some preferences to national exporters, among other things, by eliminating discriminatory approaches in the application of regulatory customs and tariff measures to some types of Belarusian products, including discriminatory anti-dumping duties. Also, this status would expedite Belarus’ accession to the WTO.
Belarusian-American relations worsened after the presidential election in Belarus held on August 9, 2020. Washington dismissed it as rigged and, in early October, imposed personal sanctions against eight Belarusian officials responsible “for electoral fraud and human rights violations.” End