AISI Comments on U.S and EU Announcement on Steel Overcapacity Discussions

WASHINGTON, DC-   Kevin Dempsey, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), issued the following statement in response to an announcement today by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and Secretary of Commerce regarding plans to begin bilateral discussions with the European Union (EU) to address global steel and aluminum excess capacity:

“We appreciate the announcement today that USTR and the Department of Commerce will be working with their EU counterparts to address the issue of global steel excess capacity, which has adversely impacted the American steel industry for many years.

“We are grateful for the administration’s commitment to addressing this crisis, to preserving and improving measures to address unfair trade and to recognizing that the American steel industry is critical to our national and economic security.

“To be successful, the bilateral discussions must take into account that, while China is the single largest source of global steel oversupply, subsidies and other market distorting policies in many countries are contributing to the overcapacity crisis —and that injurious surges in imports have come from every region of the world.

“Achieving an agreement that produces real results for our industry will take time and will not be easy. However, I am hopeful that the U.S. government can work with the EU toward substantive solutions to the global overcapacity crisis in steel while maintaining the necessary trade measures to prevent surges in steel imports that could quickly undermine the U.S. industry and our national security.

“We look forward to working in partnership with the Biden administration, the United Steelworkers and our industry partners to ensure the American steel industry and its workers remain a vital part of the American economy and a key contributor to our national security.”

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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).