Brussels/Washington, 06/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - In a letter to the President of the USA, the majority of Senators expressed their opposition to the Bush Administration's draft for repealing the Byrd Amendment, although this legislation is very much opposed throughout the world, from Brazil to Europe and had been declared illegal by the World Trade Organisation (see EUROPE 17 January p 17). There are 68 signatories to the letter, 2/3 of the members of the Senate (44 Democrats, 23 Republicans and an Independent. They believe that before any attempt at change is made they should look for a negotiated solution with those who have opposed the law for two years and which benefits US companies through a surcharge on their foreign competitors charged for dumping or for applying unfair trade subsidies. They also draw the President's attention to the fact that "the continued application of this law is crucial for protecting jobs, which would have otherwise disappeared… and for maintaining competitiveness in US industry".