US trade panel approves probes on imports that may lead to steep import duties.

On Friday, February 10^th, US trade panel approved probes on imports from South Korea, Mexico, Vietnam, China, and Taiwan. According to the International Trade Commission, imports from these countries are harmful to American producers. American manufactures of washing machines accuse their Asian rivals in undercutting fair market prices on their products by significant amounts. American Wind Tower Trade Coalition faces the same problem and alleged that China and Vietnam sell their wind towers at prices 200 and 140 percent below those of American producers. Such investigations may lead to imposing duties on imports from China, Vietnam, Mexico, Taiwan, and South Korea. However, there is a fear that these duties may harm international trade cooperation as well as cooperation in the clean energy sector. 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/10/us-usa-trade-probe-idUSTRE8191NZ20120210 

Oksana Vernygora