The Department of Commerce (DoC) and International Trade Commission (ITC) are required by law to conduct five-year “sunset reviews” of anti-dumping and countervailing duty (AD/CVD) orders to determine whether to terminate, suspend, or continue the duties beyond the five years they have already been in place.  I have introduced a resolution that urges the DoC and ITC to consider, and report on, the impact of the AD/CVD orders on domestic steel-consuming companies and the overall economy when conducting sunset reviews of duties on steel products.

The DoC and ITC have the discretion to take into account the impact of these duties on steel consumers, and they should.  But traditionally they have not.  If this continues, economic decisions will be made without seeing the full effects of those decisions.  This is not wise, and it’s not fair.  Furthermore, the damage unnecessary duties do to steel consumers causes the customer base for domestic steel producers to shrink, ultimately harming the steel industry.  Sound economic policy cannot be made in a vacuum.  When economic policy decisions are made, the full effects of those decisions should be taken into consideration. 

This resolution does nothing to change trade law.  It simply calls for sound policy and fundamental fairness. 

The Resolution (adobe acrobat required)

Introductory Statement on the Resolution

Testimony Before the International Trade Commission