US Steel Tariffs: Snout Comes Out Of The Pork Barrel

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 4th Dec 2003

Commenting on reports from the White House that the US will lift tariffs on steel, Malcolm Bruce MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow DTI Secretary, said: "This is welcome news. President Bush must realise as the leader of the world's largest economy, that the US has to set the example, particularly in world trade."

"If the biggest and richest economy in the world resorts regularly to the crudest of pork-barrel domestic policies, then the future of world trade is bleak."

"Genuine free trade benefits rich and poor nations alike. Selective free trade is not just mean spirited but will rebound on America and impoverish car workers in Detroit as much as textile workers in Shanghai."