AISI Statement on Government Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kevin Dempsey, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), made the following statement regarding the government shutdown:

“The federal government provides many essential services – a number of them impacting the American steel industry. The most immediate and significant impact of the government shutdown is the inability to get critical data, analysis and information on steel trade through the Department of Commerce (DOC) program for tracking steel import licenses. Although Commerce may still be collecting the data, it is not being published nor does the steel industry have access to it. Therefore, we do not have the much-needed early-warning system regarding foreign imports. This is a critical tool, given that unfair trade practices and massive overproduction of steel ― which can result in increased imports into the U.S. ― is the biggest challenge faced by the American steel industry. Without the ability to monitor those trade flows in real time, steel imports can surge into our markets undetected. This will impact American jobs long before the industry can see the import surge in regular government import data. In addition, creating uncertainty in federal projects that use a lot of American steel could also dramatically impact our industry. For the sake of American steel jobs, we urge passage of a clean Continuing Resolution to end the current government funding stalemate.”

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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. 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.