§ 3437. Identification of industries facing subsidized imports
(a)
Petitions
Any entity, including a trade association, firm, certified or recognized union, or group of workers, that is representative of a United States industry and has reason to believe—
(1)
that—
(A)
as a result of implementation of provisions of the Agreement, the industry is likely to face increased competition from subsidized imports, from a NAFTA country, with which it directly competes; or
(B)
the industry is likely to face increased competition from subsidized imports with which it directly competes from any other country designated by the President, following consultations with the Congress, as benefiting from a reduction of tariffs or other trade barriers under a trade agreement that enters into force with respect to the United States after January 1, 1994; and
(2)
that the industry is likely to experience a deterioration of its competitive position before more effective rules and disciplines relating to the use of government subsidies have been developed with respect to the country concerned;
may file with the Trade Representative a petition that such industry be identified under this section.
(b)
Identification of industry
Within 90 days after receipt of a petition under subsection (a) of this section, the Trade Representative, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall decide whether to identify the industry on the basis that there is a reasonable likelihood that the industry may face both the subsidization described in subsection (a)(1) of this section and the deterioration described in subsection (a)(2) of this section.
(c)
Action after identification
At the request of an entity that is representative of an industry identified under subsection (b) of this section, the Trade Representative shall—
(2)
recommend to the President that an investigation by the International Trade Commission be requested under section 332 of the Tariff Act of 1930 [19 U.S.C. 1332]; or
The industry may request the Trade Representative to take appropriate action to update (as often as annually) any information obtained under paragraph (1) or (2), or both, as the case may be, until an agreement on more effective rules and disciplines relating to government subsidies is reached between the United States and the NAFTA countries.
(d)
Initiation of action under other law
(1)
In general
The Trade Representative and the Secretary of Commerce shall review information obtained under subsection (c) of this section and consult with the industry identified under subsection (b) of this section with a view to deciding whether any action is appropriate—
(2)
Criteria for initiation
In determining whether to initiate any investigation under section
2411 of this title or any other trade law, other than title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930 [19 U.S.C. 1671 et seq.], the Trade Representative, after consultation with the Secretary of Commerce—
(B)
shall consult with the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives;
(C)
shall coordinate with the interagency organization established under section
1872 of this title; and
(3)
Title III actions
In the event an investigation is initiated under section
2412
(c) of this title as a result of a review under this subsection and the Trade Representative, following such investigation (including any applicable dispute settlement proceedings under the Agreement or any other trade agreement), determines to take action under section
2411
(a) of this title, the Trade Representative shall give preference to actions that most directly affect the products that benefit from governmental subsidies and were the subject of the investigation, unless there are no significant imports of such products or the Trade Representative otherwise determines that application of the action to other products would be more effective.
(e)
Effect of decisions
Any decision, whether positive or negative, or any action by the Trade Representative or the Secretary of Commerce under this section shall not in any way—
(f)
Standing
Nothing in this section may be construed to alter in any manner the requirements in effect before December 8, 1993, for standing under any law of the United States or to add any additional requirements for standing under any law of the United States.