Aggressive Action Sends Strong Signal that Administration Will Enforce Trade Laws

PITTSBURGH, April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) today issued the following statement from International President Leo W. Gerard regarding the U.S. Department of Commerce's (DOC) decision to utilize new tools to fight unfair dumping by foreign trade partners:

"Commerce's decision to use the new tools passed by Congress to fight unfair trade sends a strong signal that our trade laws will be aggressively enforced. American producers and workers just want a fair chance to compete, and we hope Commerce's actions will help restore a level playing field for our members.

"Oil country tubular goods (OCTG), critical components of the expansion of energy development and finding new sources, line the wells and bring these energy resources to market. When demand for OCTG increased, first China and then Korea flooded our market with cheap, unfairly traded and illegally priced products, depressing prices, stealing production and preventing American workers from participating in the boom created by oil and gas extraction in our industrial heartland. Only the hard-fought and concerted effort of employers and labor together brought relief from Chinese products.

"Korea then took China's place stealing market share and USW members' jobs. They claimed the dumped steel in their pipe did not count. This simply defies logic and, as the DOC found, is counter to the facts and the law. Using a new tool passed by Congress known as "particular market situation," DOC pierced through Korea's arguments and identified that dumping was occurring at margins of up to 24 percent for one major producer. These margins, once in place, will help ensure that investment, production and employment can once again expand here at home.

"This decision is welcome news to those workers who lost their jobs and count on our government to effectively enforce our trade laws. We hope it is a signal that a new approach to trade is on its way."

The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in manufacturing, metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations.

More information, contact:   
Holly Hart (202) 778-4384    
hhart@usw.org

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SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)