AISI Applauds Passage Of Measure To Help Level The Playing Field For Steel

February 4, 2022

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) today applauded passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the Leveling the Playing Field Act 2.0 as part of the America COMPETES Act. The provisions in this trade bill will strengthen the U.S. trade laws by enhancing the tools available to obtain more expeditious relief against repeat offenders, addressing the growing problem of cross-border subsidization and ensuring timely completion of anticircumvention inquiries.

“As China and other export-oriented economies develop new ways to evade and circumvent U.S. trade remedy orders, it is critical that our trade laws be updated to respond to these challenges. We are pleased that the House today has taken the first step toward adopting these important strengthening amendments to our trade laws,” said Kevin Dempsey, AISI president and CEO.

AISI this week sent a letter to all members of the House of Representatives urging passage of the trade bill as part of the America COMPETES Act. The Leveling the Playing Field Act 2.0 was originally introduced in the House by Reps. Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Bill Johnson (R-OH). Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced similar legislation in the Senate last spring. Both bills enjoy broad bipartisan support.

Dempsey indicated that a key example of cross-border subsidization that this legislation aims to address is the building of a three million metric ton stainless steel mill in Indonesia by Tsingshan Holdings Group, a Chinese steel company, with the primary purpose of exporting stainless steel to other markets around the world. Through its “Belt and Road Initiative,” China helped subsidize the development of this new steel capacity in coordination with the Indonesian government, which also imposed a ban on the export of nickel ore to incentivize stainless steel production in Indonesia.

“This legislation will strengthen the effectiveness of the U.S. trade laws and will give American workers the confidence that their government has every potential tool available to fight for a level playing field against foreign competitors that seek to cheat the system,” Dempsey concluded.

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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’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, LinkedIn, Twitter (@AISISteel) or Instagram.