WASHINGTON, DC — Intellectual property rights protection, the China Automotive Industry Development Policy and China’s export controls on metallurgical coke were three of the main themes that interim MEMA President Scott Meyer testified on before U.S. trade representatives and officials from the departments of Labor, Commerce and other U.S. government agencies, during a hearing on China’s compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
Meyer testified that MEMA believes China is not meeting its WTO commitments with respect to intellectual property rights protection in the automotive parts and components sector. “China is the primary global source of counterfeiting in our industry,” he said. “Counterfeit parts are widely sold throughout China and are shipped from China to the U.S and around the world.”
Speaking on China’s export controls on metallurgical coke, Meyer said, “MEMA seeks elimination of China’s present restrictions on the export of this vital raw material. The market-distorting practices by the Chinese government are contributing to the current steel-cost crisis in the United States.”
In testimony to the U.S. government, Meyer noted that American automotive suppliers are devoting enormous resources to remain globally competitive and participate in the emerging Chinese automotive market, but the failure of China to comply with any of its WTO commitments will give an unfair advantage to the Chinese industry and thwart the ability of American manufacturers to compete.
For more information about MEMA, go to: www.mema.org.
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