releases: http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3583
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3583 | Klobuchar, Franken, and Bipartisan Group of Senators Urge the International Trade Commission to Provide American Steel Plate Manufacturers Relief from Dumped and Subsidized Imports | 2016-12-05 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Al Franken | F000457 | franken.senate.gov | legacy | In 2015 alone, the domestic industry estimates that 1.2 million tons of unfairly traded imports, worth $850 million, entered the U.S. market; As of last year, U.S. producers were utilizing only 66 percent of their capacity, with U.S. plate production falling by nearly 20 percent in 2015In a letter to Chairman Williamson, Klobuchar, Franken, and members of the bipartisan U.S. Senate Steel Caucus urged the International Trade Commission to fully implement the Leveling the Playing Field Act and consider a comprehensive list of factors in the Commission's injury determination to provide relief for U.S. industries that have been harmed by unfairly traded imports Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with a bipartisan group of senators, have urged the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) to provide American steel plate manufacturers relief from dumped and subsidized imports. In 2015 alone, the domestic industry estimated that 1.2 million tons of unfairly traded imports, worth $850 million, entered the U.S. market. As of last year, U.S. producers were utilizing only 66 percent of their capacity, with U.S. plate production falling by nearly 20 percent in 2015. In a letter to Chairman Williamson, Klobuchar, Franken, and members of the bipartisan U.S. Senate Steel Caucus urged USITC to fully implement the Leveling the Playing Field Act and consider a comprehensive list of factors in the Commission's injury determination to provide relief for U.S. industries that have been harmed by unfairly traded imports."We write to express our concern about unfairly dumped and subsidized carbon and alloy steel cut-to-length plate imports that are harming U.S. producers. As you conduct investigations into the impact of these imports on American manufacturers, we urge you to fully implement the Leveling the Playing Field Act (Title V of P.L. 1 14-27) and consider a comprehensive list of factors in the Commission's injury determinations," the lawmakers wrote. "We appreciate the Commission's role in ensuring that U.S. producers of hot-rolled, coldrolled, and corrosion-resistant steel obtained the relief they needed from dumped and subsidized imports. We ask you to ensure that the same relief is extended to U.S. steel plate manufacturers."In addition to Klobuchar and Franken, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Richard Durbin (D-IL), John Boozman (R-AR), Bob Casey (D-PA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Richard Shelby (R-AL), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC).In February, after efforts from Klobuchar and Franken, the Administration announced new actions to combat steel dumping. The actions included new Customs and Border Patrol personnel to enforce our trade laws, stepped up inspections of steel imports at our ports of entry, and increased personnel at the Commerce Department to help ensure tariffs are enforced against those who dump steel in the U.S. The president also signed legislation that provides additional tools to more aggressively enforce anti-dumping provisions under existing federal law.Klobuchar and Franken have been leaders in efforts to fight foreign steel dumping and provide support for U.S. steelworkers and miners affected by layoffs. Klobuchar and Franken have introduced legislation to crack down on illegal steel dumping by strengthening trade enforcement. Following consistent pressure from the lawmakers last year, USITC voted to impose penalties on Mexican, Turkish, and Korean companies dumping steel in the U.S. They also sent a letter with Representative Rick Nolan to successfully urge the U.S. Department of Labor to expedite approval of TAA petitions submitted by workers from the affected mining operations.The full text of the lawmakers' letter is below:Dear Chairman Williamson:We write to express our concern about unfairly dumped and subsidized carbon and alloy steel cut-to-length plate imports that are harming U.S. producers. As you conduct investigations into the impact of these imports on American manufacturers, we urge you to fully implement the Leveling the Playing Field Act (Title V of P.L. 1 14-27) and consider a comprehensive list of factors in the Commission's injury determinations.Imports of steel plate have skyrocketed in recent years. Between 2013 and 2015, they surged by 100 percent. In 2015 alone, the domestic industry estimates that 1.2 million tons of unfairly traded imports, worth $850 million, entered the U.S. market. These imports have taken their toll, and U.S. producers were forced to file antidumping and countervailing duty cases in April of this year.As of last year, U.S. producers were utilizing only 66 percent of their capacity, with U.S. plate production falling by nearly 20 percent in 2015. U.S. plate producers' sales dropped by more than one million tons. At the same time, the U.S. plate industry's operating income fell by over 90 percent. As a result, more than 200 workers were laid off in 2015. Even where workers have been able to keep their jobs, hourly wages have been reduced significantly.The Leveling the Playing Field Act expanded the factors to be considered by the Commission in an injury evaluation to ensure that our trade remedy laws provide relief for U.S. industries that have been harmed by unfairly traded imports. Specifically, Section 503 of the law includes among the factors the ITC must consider, any declines in output, sales, profits, and utilization of capacity. We urge you to incorporate analysis of these factors into your evaluation and to ensure your determination reflects the injury incurred by domestic steel plate producers.We appreciate the Commission's role in ensuring that U.S. producers of hot-rolled, coldrolled, and corrosion-resistant steel obtained the relief they needed from dumped and subsidized imports. We ask you to ensure that the same relief is extended to U.S. steel plate manufacturers.Thank you for your consideration of this letter. Sincerely, ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |