Rep. Slaughter Praises Federal Decision In Favor of Local Jobs

Washington, DC -  "Better late than never," was Congresswoman Louise Slaughter's reaction to this week's decision by the U.S. Department of Commerce to impose a dumping duty on Chinese made chemicals that competes with those made by FMC Corporation's Tonawanda, New York persulfates chemical plant. 

The Department reached its decision in its most recent annual review of the facts in a dumping case first brought by FMC in 1997.  FMC had received three successive zeroes during the Bush administration and has had to lay off 33% of its workforce employees since 2000 due to earlier administration decisions.

"This reversal by the Department is a vote of confidence in the efforts of management and employees to stay competitive and keep jobs in our area," said Slaughter. 

Congresswoman Slaughter had argued that the Department needed to make certain it was fully taking into account Chinese costs of production, a factor critical in so called dumping decisions.

"Our national security is also a factor," continued Slaughter noting the FMC plant was the sole remaining domestic producer of this chemical critical to circuit board etching and other critical industrial uses.

Slaughter's role in helping convince the Department of Commerce to take a second look was praised by FMC Tonawanda General Manager Daryl Largiss.

"We appreciate Congresswoman Slaughter's support, persistent interest and involvement in the establishment of a dumping duty which helps to level the playing field in our domestic persulfate markets," said Largiss.

The dumping case will be reviewed again next year, and Congresswoman Slaughter has indicated her intent to be fully engaged again on behalf of the workers at the site.  The most recent Department of Commerce Decision imposes a 3.3% duty on imports of Chinese persulfates.