Greer Backs Coordinated Steel Measures at Milwaukee G20

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Wednesday that 28 countries had agreed to work toward additional tariffs on steel from China and other major sources of excess production, while a separate steel-forum framework calls for coordinated action on capacity, subsidies and trade patterns. The discussions took place alongside the G20 trade ministers’ meeting in Milwaukee. The 28 mostly Western countries agreed to pursue more tariffs on steel produced in countries considered major sources of excess capacity, according to reports of the discussions. The group’s agreement is distinct from the Milwaukee Framework, released by the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity, whose 28 members include the European Union, Australia, Japan and South Korea but not China. Greer said the framework was intended to coordinate members’ responses, while leaving each country to decide what measures it considers appropriate. He said the United States had already taken strong steps and suggested other countries might take similar action. He did not specify which governments would adopt particular measures.