The illegal dumping of steel products by foreign countries is harming the steel industry in Minnesota and across the country, resulting in plant closures and job losses
Senators’ bill would crack down on illegal steel dumping by strengthening trade enforcement
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced legislation to crack down on illegal steel dumping and protect U.S. steelworkers. The illegal dumping of steel products by foreign countries is harming the steel industry in Minnesota and across the country, resulting in plant closures and job losses. The senators’ bill would crack down on illegal steel dumping by strengthening trade enforcement.
“Our steelworkers can compete with anyone in the world, but when foreign producers dump cheap steel in our country, it undercuts our domestic industry and puts American steelworker jobs at risk,” Klobuchar said. “While we have recently taken steps to help fight foreign dumping, more and more mining operations are being forced to idle and it is clear more must be done. By strengthening trade enforcement, this important legislation will help provide a level playing field for the American workers who help keep our country strong as steel.”
“Minnesota iron and steel producers and workers are the best and most productive in the world,” said Franken. “But the playing field has been tilted by foreign competitors illegally dumping steel into the market. Recently, we have seen far too many facilities idle and close. Although we’ve taken measures to stop dumping, this legislation will further crack down illegal practices. We need to do everything we can to fight for our workers and producers.”
The Trade Enforcement Improvement Act would include the following measures to strengthen America’s trade enforcement capabilities:
· Allowing duties to be imposed retroactively in cases where an industry is judged to be facing critical circumstances
· Allowing duties to be imposed even further in advance before critical harm is done to a domestic industry facing the threat of material injury
· Requiring the publication of a list of duty evaders to help raise public awareness and assist law enforcement
Klobuchar is a leader in efforts to fight foreign dumping and ensure a level playing field for U.S. steel producers and workers. In August, Klobuchar wrote a letter to the president urging him to take stronger actions to protect the steel industry in Minnesota and across the country from harm caused by foreign dumping. She joined other Minnesota lawmakers in a meeting with administration officials at the White House in March to discuss what steps can be taken to stop mining and steel industry job losses. Following consistent pressure from Klobuchar last year, the International Trade Commission voted to impose penalties on Mexican, Turkish, and Korean companies dumping steel in the U.S.
Klobuchar has also been fighting to ensure American workers who have been affected by the recent layoffs have the support they need and deserve. Klobuchar has met with steelworkers on Minnesota’s Iron Range to discuss concerns about the need to stop industry losses. She worked closely with state officials to ensure that immediate funding for job retraining and educational opportunities was secured. In addition, she recently led a letter along with Senator Al Franken and Representative Rick Nolan to successfully urge the U.S. Department of Labor to expedite approval of the three Trade Adjustment Assistance petitions submitted by workers from the affected mining operations. She also has pressed the U.S. Department of Labor to honor its commitment to steelworkers and their families.
Franken has long fought to ensure fair trade practices and protect Minnesota workers and businesses. Earlier this year, he successfully pressed key trade agencies, including the ITC, to act to limit the damage being done to the American steel and iron ore industry by unfairly priced South Korean steel. In May, he joined a number of colleagues in writing to the Secretary of Commerce expressing concerns about the Department’s preliminary determination that Korea was not dumping steel in the U.S. and urging Commerce to take action against unfair dumping to the fullest extent of the law.. He followed up by communicating the concerns of Minnesota’s iron ore industry about the Korean imports directly to the Department of Commerce in the days leading up to the Department’s final determination that the Korean imports had been illegally dumped. And in July, he submitted testimony to the ITC outlining how unfairly priced Korean steel has hurt Minnesota’s iron ore producers. Franken has also supported the Level the Playing Field Act, which strengthens our existing trade enforcement laws, including trade remedies that allow for anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports that are unfairly subsidized or dumped in domestic markets
Franken has also worked with those already affected by illegal dumping. He has met with steelworkers throughout the Iron Range and successfully fought to expedite Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) petitions for laid-off workers with Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Rick Nolan. TAA provides assistance to those affected by trade with education and job-training.
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