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The Single Rule That Made Global Steel Trade Possible
Description
Episode 102 of Global Trade with Fexingo dives into the one World Trade Organization rule that underpins the $900 billion global steel trade: the 'most-favored-nation' principle under GATT Article I. Lucas and Luna trace how this rule, written in 1947, prevents countries from discriminating between trading partners and how it was tested in the 2018 Section 232 tariffs on steel. Using the specific case of South Korea's exemption and the subsequent WTO dispute, they explain why MFN is the backbone of predictable steel commerce. The episode also covers the 'national treatment' obligation under GATT Article III and how it interacts with anti-dumping duties, a frequent tool in steel disputes. Listeners learn one concrete example—how a Brazilian steel mill benefits from MFN when exporting to Japan—and why the rule is under pressure from carbon border adjustments.