Brussels, 16/09/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, it was with great satisfaction that the Union welcomed the verdict reached in Geneva establishing the fact that the so-called "Byrd Amendment" US law was illegal. The law allows American producers to receive proceeds from punitive surcharges imposed on their foreign competitors (see EUROPE of 9/10 September, p.14). Pascal Lamy said he was very pleased to see the panel confirm that these provisions disputed by the Union and by ten other joint complainants constitute violation of the obligations of the United States towards the WTO. He very much hoped that the United States would rapidly undo this legislation, given the clear condemnation of the legislation and the very broad interests that are affected by it, and as recommended by the panel in the conclusions that it recently made public. EUROPE will come back to this.