AISI Applauds USTR Leadership At Global Steel Forum

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kevin Dempsey, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute, today applauded remarks presented by U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer to the Global Steel Forum on Excess Capacity (GFSEC) ministerial meeting, which took place in South Africa this morning. Dempsey made the following statement:

“Addressing the massive global excess capacity in steel, which is driven by foreign government industrial-targeting, subsidies and other market-distorting interventions, is one of the most critical issues facing the American steel industry today. This excess capacity is fueling a surge in Chinese steel exports that is very damaging to steel producers around the world, causing trade diversion and fueling transshipment through third-country markets.

“AISI strongly supports Ambassador Greer’s statement today before the ministerial meeting of the Global Steel Forum on Excess Capacity (GFSEC), and we echo his message that existing international trade rules have proved inadequate to discipline the policies and practices that have caused the global steel crisis. We particularly want to highlight the importance of Ambassador Greer’s call for other governments to join with the United States to take action to address more fully excess capacity in the steel sector and its impacts on steel producers and workers in many regions of the world. We are pleased that GFSEC members have discussed a framework for joint action to address the root causes and effects of global excess steel capacity, and we applaud the strong leadership of Ambassador Greer and the Trump trade team in confronting this challenge head-on.”

####

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. These steels are critical to America’s national and economic security, including roads and bridges, buildings, the electrical grid, cars and trucks and all clean energy technologies. 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.