AISI Applauds Passage of Amendment to Ensure Sufficient Funding to Combat Unfair Trade Practices

July 30, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) today applauded passage of a measure that would set sufficient funding levels for trade enforcement activities conducted by the International Trade Administration (ITA) Office of Enforcement and Compliance (E&C) to ensure adequate resources to combat unfair trade practices.

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed an amendment, introduced by the leaders of the Congressional Steel Caucus, Representatives Mike Bost (R-IL), Conor Lamb (D-PA) and Rick Crawford (R-AR), and others, to the FY2021 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill (CJS), which would set minimum funding levels for trade enforcement activities at the E&C office. The office is part of the Department of Commerce and conducts antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations to determine if imports are being dumped or subsidized. It also enforces trade laws against foreign importers seeking to circumvent trade remedy orders. AISI had strongly advocated for passage of the amendment, including writing a letter earlier today to congressmen with steel facilities in their states or districts.

In urging members of Congress to vote for the amendment, AISI interim president and CEO, Kevin Dempsey, said, “In the first nine months of the fiscal year, the Commerce Department has received approximately 100 AD/CVD petitions alleging unfair trade practices, which is a record. Setting a minimum funding level for enforcement activities to address allegations of unfair trade practices is critical to ensuring thorough and expeditious investigations and putting practical trade remedies in place to keep Americans employed.”

A final vote is expected on the underlying appropriations bill later today.

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Contact: Lisa Harrison
202.452.7115 / lharrison@www.steel.org

AISI serves as the voice of the North 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 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).