AISI Comments On Administration Announcement On U.S.-EU Steel Trade Agreement

October 30, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kevin Dempsey, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), issued the following statement in response to the announcement today by the Department of Commerce (DOC) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) that an agreement had been reached with the EU on steel tariffs and common approaches to address global excess capacity:

“We thank Secretary Raimondo and Ambassador Tai for their efforts to ensure that, as the United States works to develop a renewed partnership with the EU to address global steel excess capacity, a tariff-rate quota (TRQ) will be maintained under Section 232 to prevent another steel import surge that would undermine our industry and destroy good paying American jobs.

“We appreciate the Biden administration’s continued recognition that the American steel industry is critical to our national and economic security, as well as its commitment to addressing the global steel overcapacity crisis and to combatting unfair trade practices in the global steel sector. Proper implementation and enforcement of the TRQ will be crucial to ensuring that the new measures are effective in meeting these critical objectives.

“We hope that with the conclusion of this agreement, the United States and the EU will now work on a common action plan for challenging non-market industrial policies and other government interventions that fuel overcapacity in steel. We urge the U.S. and EU to take active steps to hold China and other countries that employ trade-distorting policies to account. We also believe U.S.-EU cooperation should focus on new trade approaches to address climate change, including through development of effective carbon border adjustment measures.”

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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.