WTO asks US to cut trade barriers, improve exports

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are imposed on intermediate goods like steel and chemical products, they also increase costs for US downstream producers and consumers.

Only 0.3 percent of US merchandise imports were directly affected by anti-dumping in 1980-2005 and the number of anti-dumping orders since then has fallen.

“Nevertheless it would be important to ensure that AD measures do not retard adjustment to changing overall conditions in international markets,” the WTO warned.

US domestic support programs, especially for agriculture and energy, are not targeted at trade but can affect global markets as the United States is among the biggest producers and consumers of many products, it said.

In agriculture, some programs may provide incentives that are inconsistent with market signals and affect trade when supported output reaches world markets, it said. “The expiration of the 2002 Farm Act, and the current environment of high commodity prices, offers a favorable juncture to introduce policy change aimed at further improving the market orientation of the agriculture sector to the benefit of both consumers and taxpayers,” the WTO said.