Trade Cases
Congressional Steel Caucus Urges More Action on Imports
March 1, 2023
The Congressional Steel Caucus (CSC) called on President Biden to keep Section 232 tariffs in place and to explore additional protections as well.
“We encourage the Biden administration to continue to maintain the Section 232 tariffs and quotas, ensure strong trade remedy laws that address unfair trade practices, and protect our environment from high-emission foreign steel production,” the CSC said to President Biden in a letter on Feb. 22.
The bipartisan congressional group urged updating US trade remedy laws “to reflect 21st-century challenges and establishing rules and standards for a resilient domestic steel industry.”
The caucus cited several key factors behind their recommendations. Among them were “government-supported overcapacity in global markets,” duty and tariff circumvention, geopolitical uncertainty, and supply chain risks that “threaten the erosion of the US manufacturing base.”
Additionally, the CSC lauded the US industry’s commitment to sustainable, low-carbon steel production. “However, these advancements are compromised every time a foreign government or producer seeks competitive advantage by cutting corners on sustainability,” the caucus added.
Philip K. Bell, president of the Steel Manufacturers Association, applauded the action taken by the caucus.
“We are proud to work with the Congressional Steel Caucus to encourage the Biden administration to maintain and enforce America’s trade laws as it encourages our trading partners to follow our roadmap for sustainable steel production,” he said in a statement provided to SMU.
Likewise, Kevin Dempsey, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), supported the action.
“We are pleased and grateful that so many members of Congress have championed the American steel industry and our workers by supporting the preservation of the existing steel tariffs,” he said in a statement to SMU.
“We appreciate that the members of the Steel Caucus continue to recognize that the new investments American steelmakers are making, and our global leadership in clean steel production, would be at risk if the existing Section 232 program does not remain in place,” he added.
Dempsey said the group looks forward to continuing work with the caucus to combat “unfair trade” and the “global trade distortions” in steel that continue to threaten the industry.
By Ethan Bernard, ethan@steelmarketupdate.com
Latest in Trade Cases

SMU Survey: Less support seen for Trump tariff policies
Meanwhile, an increasing number think it's too early to say whether the penalties are going to bring more manufacturing to the US.

CRU: USW seeks exclusion for Canada from Trump’s tariffs
The union is also urging stronger enforcement against countries such as China which break trade rules, and a coordinated Canada-US strategy to protect union jobs across the North America

Price on trade: A lot happened last week – and it wasn’t all about tariffs
Should foreign investment be allowed to reshape the American steel Industry? Not to be lost in the recent on-again-off-again tariff frenzy, Nippon Steel’s proposed takeover of U.S. Steel has also found itself in President Trump’s crosshairs when it comes to trade and industrial policy. Nippon Steel initially announced its nearly $15-billion bid for U.S. Steel […]

Trump signs executive order aimed at making US shipbuilding ‘great again’
President Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order meant to breathe new life into American shipbuilding and curb Chinese dominance in the sector.

Trump still against selling USS to Japanese firm: Report
Despite ordering a new review of Nippon Steel’s bid for U.S. Steel, President Trump said he is still against selling USS to a Japanese company, according to media reports.