Brasília, July 11, 2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The World Trade Organization (WTO) panel formed at the request of Brazil, the European Union, China, South Korea, Japan, Norway, New Zealand, and Switzerland, determined today that all the protective measures imposed by the US on imports of 10 categories of steel products violate the rules of multilateral trade.

"The Brazilian government welcomes this decision and expresses its expectation that the US will promptly revoke the protective measures that were held incompatible with WTO norms," the Ministry of Foreign Relations informed in an official note released today.

On March 5, the US established measures to protect the domestic market, causing considerable losses to the major producers of steel around the world. Duties of up to 30% were levied on imported steel products, effectively banning foreign product sales in the US. (DAS)