Trade Cases

Congressman Urges ITC to Maintain AD and Suspension Agreements on CTL Steel Plate

September 28, 2015

U.S. Congressman Pete Visclosky (D) addressed the International Trade Commission (ITC) hearing on cut-to-length carbon steel plate today, calling for the ITC to maintain the existing antidumping orders on cut-to-length steel plate from China, and the suspension agreements from Russia and Ukraine.

“As a representative and resident of Northwest Indiana, one of our nation’s foremost steel-producing regions, I am acutely aware of the challenges facing the American steel industry due to the onslaught of illegal foreign imports,” said Visclosky in his testimony. “ArcelorMittal makes cut-to-length carbon steel plate at its Burns Harbor facility in my district, and employs hundreds of dedicated United Steelworkers at that plant. Both are impacted by this case, and both are under daily attack from illegal imports. Since 2010, ArcelorMittal has invested $1.5 billion in its U.S. operations. However, during the same time period, the company experienced a domestic profit loss equal to that amount. We cannot continue to allow our domestic producers to flounder while foreign competitors gain a greater foothold in our market by violating U.S. trade laws.”

He continued, “Our domestic steel manufacturers and steelworkers need the ITC to take action. I urge you to maintain the existing anti-dumping orders on cut-to-length steel plate from China, and the suspension agreements from Russia and Ukraine.

“Cut-to-length carbon steel plate is an essential component of American infrastructure, and it is used to build bridges, railway equipment, and structures throughout the nation. We have a responsibility to ensure that American infrastructure and our national defense infrastructure is built by American steel. We have a responsibility to ensure that the American steel industry is not eviscerated by illegally traded imports. We have a responsibility to send a clear message to our global trading partners, our domestic manufacturers, our steelworkers, and our nation, that our government enforces our trading laws.”