Congress Votes to Repeal Law on Punitive Duties

Congress voted to repeal the so-called Byrd Amendment that allowed duties on foreign imports to be distributed to companies.

The repeal will not take effect until Sept. 30, 2007, allowing U.S. companies to continue collecting money from a system that global trade arbitrators ruled illegal more than three years ago. That long transition period drew a rebuke from the European Union.

The repeal of the trade measure was included in budget legislation approved by the House. President Bush has pledged to sign the bill, which already passed the Senate.