AISI Applauds Re-Introduction of Bills to Address Unfair Trade

WASHINGTON, DC-   The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)  applauded the introduction today of the “Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 Act” — bipartisan legislation introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) and in the Senate by Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Tina Smith (D-MN).  The bill aims to strengthen U.S. trade remedy laws to crack down on unfair trade practices — including addressing the growing problem of cross-border subsidization where foreign governments subsidize industries, like steel, not only in their own countries but in other countries as well.

Kevin Dempsey, president and CEO of AISI, said, “The American steel industry has faced repeated surges of unfairly traded steel imports from many countries and regions. Trade-distorting economic policies by China and other countries have contributed to a massive global overcapacity in steel, estimated to be 573 million metric tons globally last year. U.S. trade remedy laws are the only means by which the American steel industry can mitigate the harm from unfairly traded imports and help prevent plants from being idled and workers from losing their jobs. Unfortunately, U.S. trade laws as currently applied do not address subsidies given by a foreign government to production outside its borders, as China is doing today.

“By strengthening the effectiveness of our trade laws, this bill will help give the American public confidence that our government has every tool available to fight for a level playing field for the American steel industry and our workers. We appreciate the leadership of Reps. Van Duyne and Sewell, and Sens. Young and Smith, in support of the American steel industry, and thank the numerous other steel champions who have cosponsored these bills.”

Among other items, the bill authorizes the Commerce Department to apply the countervailing duty law to transnational subsidies, strengthens the antidumping law by ensuring the ability of the Commerce Department to make “particular market situation” adjustments in antidumping investigations in all instances where home market costs or prices have been distorted, sets clear statutory deadlines for anti-circumvention inquiries and ensures the countervailing duty law can be applied to currency manipulation by foreign governments, Dempsey noted.

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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 (EAF) steelmakers, steel pipe and tube manufacturers, and steel processors and fabricators reflecting the production and distribution of both carbon and stainless steels which are critical to the everyday lives of all Americans — including national security, roads and bridges, buildings, the electrical grid, clean energy technologies and the automotive market. AISI also represents 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.