September 14, 2010

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-04) testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in Washington, D.C. to support TMK IPSCO, U.S. Steel, and other manufacturers’ petition for relief from Chinese imports. On October 15, the ITC will issue a final ruling on whether Chinese imports of seamless line pipe have caused material injury to domestic steel manufacturers. If the ITC rules that they have, the U.S. Department of Commerce will then be able to impose duties on these imports. Congressman Altmire’s district contains two TMK IPSCO manufacturing facilities in Ambridge and Koppel, Pennsylvania.

“American companies deserve to have the opportunity to compete in a fair market,” Congressman Altmire said. “In recent years, a surge in Chinese seamless line pipe imports has put TMK IPSCO and other domestic steel companies at an unfair disadvantage. The ITC should recognize the toll that China’s unfair trading practices have taken on America’s steel industry and issue a ruling that will safeguard American jobs by providing these companies with much-needed relief.”

Seamless line pipe is used to convey oil, natural gas, and other fluids in pipe lines, transmission lines, and gathering lines. Between 2006 and 2008, the amount of Chinese seamless line pipe imported into the U.S. more than doubled, greatly eroding domestic manufacturers’ share of the market.

You can read the full text of Congressman Altmire’s testimony by clicking here.