FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Holly Hart, (202) 778-4384
(Pittsburgh) -- United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard released the following statement today after the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) unanimously voted that dumped and subsidized cold-rolled steel flat products from China and Japan were injuring domestic producers and workers. This was the final phase of the investigation, and duties will help to restore fair pricing conditions.
“Today’s vote signals to steelworkers that more help is on the way. They have been watching as foreign competitors targeted the products they made and the jobs they held by subsidizing and dumping imports into our market. They have waited far too long -- almost a year since this case was filed -- for the deserved relief that they so desperately needed along with restoration of fair market conditions.
“Our companies and workers play by the rules. Too many of our competitors illegally employ actions that undermine our markets and take our jobs. Today’s decision addresses an important product segment in our domestic steel sector. But, because of the way our laws work, other affirmative final decisions by the ITC will be needed to provide relief to thousands of other workers. Without a comprehensive approach by our government, we have to cobble together relief. This is time consuming, expensive and unfair to those whose jobs have been under attack.
“The USW will fight for every American job. We will also fight to change our trade policies and demand a fair trade approach that ends deals that continue existing flawed practices.
“Steel is the backbone of our economy and our national security. We cannot allow unfair trade practices to put our future in jeopardy. This case puts us closer to achieving the relief that is much needed.”
The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors. For more information: http://www.usw.org/.
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