{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-poliquin-s-testimony-top-federal-trade-officials-results-unanimous", "Rep. Poliquins Testimony Before Top Federal Trade Officials Results in Unanimous Ruling in Favor of Maine Forest Products Jobs Against Chinese Manufacturers", "2017-12-04", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "ME", "Bruce Poliquin", "P000611", "poliquin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 In a sweeping 4-0 vote, the International Trade Commission (ITC), the Nation\u2019s top federal trade officials, ruled in favor of Maine forest products jobs against illegal Chinese subsidies, after Congressman Bruce Poliquin (ME-02) strongly implored them to do so at a hearing in October. The ITC\u2019s unanimous ruling Friday activates significant tariffs on the imports of Chinese hardwood plywood, helping to level the playing field for American and Maine wood products manufacturers.\n\u00a0\n\u201cMainers are the hardest working people in the world and can compete and win against anyone, but the rules have to be fair,\u201d said Congressman Poliquin. \u201cFor too long, Mainers have borne the brunt of unfair and illegal trade practices from foreign competition. In particular, Chinese manufacturers, backed by the Chinese government, have had an unfair advantage over our wood products industry, not playing by the rules.\n\u00a0\n\u201cThe ITC\u2019s unanimous ruling in favor of Maine jobs is a strong and encouraging victory for hundreds of hardworking Mainers in Presque Isle. I am thrilled with the commission\u2019s definitive ruling and will continue to fight to ensure Mainers can compete on a level playing field.\u201d\n\u00a0\nSaid Gary Gillespie, Vice President of Northern Operations for Columbia Forest Products, based in Presque Isle, \u201cOn behalf of the 161 Columbia Forest Products employees in Presque Isle, Maine, we are both thrilled and thankful with the results at the ITC. This victory for American manufacturing is in no small part due to the tireless support of Congressman Poliquin.\u201d\n\u00a0\nIn October, Congressman Poliquin joined a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers to testify in-person at the ITC, where he implored the trade officials to act on hardwood dumping by Chinese companies that adversely impact American competitors from Maine and elsewhere across our Nation.\n\u00a0\nCongressman Poliquin testifies before the ITC in October, imploring the federal trade officials to condemn unfair trade from Chinese competitors and to protect Maine jobs.\n\u00a0\nCongressman Poliquin testifying before the ITC in October.\n\u00a0\nCongressman Poliquin holds up plywood made in the USA and plywood made in China during the ITC hearing in October.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://poliquin.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-poliquin-s-testimony-top-federal-trade-officials-results-unanimous"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.007863087579608, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}