Wyden: WTO Decision on Argentina Validates Strong Trade Enforcement

WASHINGTON –Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, senior Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, applauded the World Trade Organization decision today, a decision that awarded a complete win for the United States in its challenge to restrictions Argentina imposed on imports of more than 600 products exported by American companies. 

“Today’s decision from the WTO shows that strong enforcement of trade rules delivers clear wins for American workers, manufacturers, and businesses that export,” Wyden said. “The WTO confirmed that Argentina’s illegal trade restrictions on American exports of everything from advanced electronics to bicycles have no place in a 21^st century global trading system.  The United States must continue to stand up for its rights and enforce the rules, and I am pleased that USTR dedicated enforcement resources to stopping what has been nothing short of a protectionist shakedown of American exporters.”

Argentina imposed a wide range of restrictions on trade in the covered products, including requirements that American companies export Argentina’s goods in order to sell American goods in Argentina, prohibitions on repatriating funds back to the United States, and requiring U.S. companies to increase investments in Argentina or use Argentina-made parts in American goods.  To avoid detection, Argentina’s trade officials often made demands in phone calls and face to face meetings with U.S., European, and Japanese company representatives, rather than through written documents, making the case particularly difficult to prove.

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