AISI Applauds Confirmation of Raimondo as Secretary of Commerce

March 2, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kevin Dempsey, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), today issued the following statement applauding Senate confirmation of the nomination of Gov. Gina Raimondo to serve as Secretary of Commerce:

“We congratulate Gov. Raimondo on her well-deserved confirmation by the Senate as Secretary of Commerce. We appreciate her commitment to addressing the issues facing the American steel industry, including vigorously enforcing the U.S. trade remedy laws and remaining aggressive in combating unfair trade practices by China and other trading partners.

“Strong enforcement of U.S. trade laws is a top priority for American steelmakers, particularly as foreign government subsidies and other market-distorting policies and practices have resulted in significant global steel overcapacity — the impacts of which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A critical part of the response to the global steel overcapacity crisis must be the full enforcement of the Section 232 remedies on steel products, including action to ensure that the Section 232 exclusions process does not inadvertently allow exclusion of products that are made by domestic steel producers. We look forward to working with Gov. Raimondo to address the steel crisis and ensure good-paying manufacturing jobs in the domestic industry are not lost to unfair trade in any form.”

 

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Contact: Lisa Harrison

202.452.7115 / lharrison@steel.org

AISI serves as the voice of the American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI’s membership is comprised of integrated and electric arc furnace steelmakers, and associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s website at www.steel.org. Follow AISI on Facebook or Twitter (@AISISteel).