WASHINGTON – Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin today commended the Bush Administration for initiating a Section 201 investigation by the International Trade Commission (ITC) into the massive influx of illegally dumped foreign steel that has flooded the U.S. market in the last three years.

Rep. Cardin, who represents many of the workers at Bethlehem Steel's Sparrows Point, MD plant, has been very critical of the unfair trading practices of many foreign steel manufacturers. The Congressman recently joined with Reps. Phil English, R-PA; Sander Levin, D-MI and Amo Houghton, R-NY, in introducing the Trade Law Reform Act, HR 1988, which would provide "safeguard" remedies to help U.S. industries -- particularly the steel industry -- deal with high levels of foreign imports.

In March, Rep. Cardin joined members of the Congressional Steel Caucus in calling on President Bush to request an immediate ITC investigation on imports of steel products. Last September, the Congressman also testified before the ITC that "U.S. steel manufacturers will not survive – or prosper – if they are not provided relief" from unfairly traded imports.

"There is no question that unfair trading practices by foreign manufacturers has severely impacted the U.S. steel industry since 1998," said the Congressman. As an example, he pointed out that steel imports in the United States rose by 102% from December 1997 to November 1998 due to the worldwide overproduction of steel. He also pointed to a 2000 Department of Commerce study that identified 16 countries, including Japan, Korea, Russia and Brazil, as engaging in "market distorting practices" which resulted in "serious structural problems" in the global steel industry.

The Section 201 investigation by the ITC will closely study steel imports that have entered the U.S. market for signs of illegal subsidies and unfair trading practices. The investigation is expected to take at least several months. The Administration has also agreed to seek a multilateral agreement to reduce global steel production overcapacity.

"I am pleased that in initiating the investigation the Bush Administration has said it will consult with the U.S. steel industry on the scope of the ITC investigation. It's important that the investigation be comprehensive in order to be fully understand the magnitude of the problem," said Rep. Cardin.