Congressional Steel Caucus Introduces House Resolution Regarding NME Countries
Washington, DC – Today, Congressional Steel Caucus Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Vice-Chairman Peter J. Visclosky (D-IN) introduced a House resolution that calls on the Administration to take action regarding non-market economy (NME) countries in order to protect American jobs and our nation’s economic security.
America’s manufacturing sector and economic security are under attack from an onslaught of illegally traded imports from NME countries, including China. The market-distorting policies of these countries and their subsidization of key commodities, such as aluminum, cement, cotton, synthetic fiber, PET resin, specialty chemicals, iron, and steel, have created challenging conditions for U.S. companies, workers, and communities. As a result of these illegal trading practices, American manufacturing has been unable to compete on a level playing field.
The House resolution calls on the Administration to provide for the full and effective application of U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duty laws against NME countries, such as China, and to retain the status of any country currently designated as a NME until it meets all of the criteria for treatment as a market economy established under current law. The resolution also calls on NME countries to eliminate all direct and indirect subsidies and other market-distorting government policies benefitting the production and export of goods to the United States, and to enter into binding and enforceable agreements for removing excess production capacity and withdrawing state intervention in and control over their economies.
The resolution was introduced with 23 additional bipartisan original cosponsors, including Rep. Bost (R-IL), Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL), Rep. Byrne (R-AL), Rep. Carson (D-IN), Rep. Costello (R-PA), Rep. Crawford (R-AR), Rep. Dent (R-PA), Rep. Gene Green (D-TX), Rep. Harper (R-MS), Rep. Hudson (R-NC), Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH), Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC), Rep. Kaptur (D-OH), Rep. Lipinski (D-IL), Rep. Loebsack (D-IA), Rep. McCollum (D-MN), Rep. Nolan (D-MN), Rep. Pittenger (R-NC), Rep. McKinley (R-WV), Rep. Reed (R-NY), Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH), Rep. Sewell (D-AL), and Rep. Tipton (R-CO).
The measure also has the support of the Manufacturers for Trade Enforcement Coalition, which is a coalition of U.S. industry groups, including the American Iron and Steel Institute and the Alliance for American Manufacturing.
“Hardworking American workers continue to pay the price for not taking action to hold China, and other foreign competitors, accountable for their clear abuse of U.S. trade laws. Millions of dollars go uncollected, thousands of jobs are lost, and American industries continue to suffer. This is unacceptable,” said Chairman Murphy. “I am proud to stand with my colleagues today to introduce this resolution. We need stronger deals that protect our economy and our workers.”
Vice-Chairman Visclosky stated, “American communities rely on the superb work of steelworkers and manufacturers to build the foundation of their economic security, and they deserve to compete in our global economy on a level playing field. It is past time that action is taken to stop the illegal trading practices of China and other non-market economy countries.”
“We are grateful to Rep. Murphy and Rep. Visclosky, and members of the Steel Caucus, for working to ensure there is a level playing field for domestic steel manufacturers – which includes making sure China is not granted market economy status this year. China maintains state control over many critical aspects of its economy, including key strategic industries like steel. It is clear that China has not met criteria to be designated a market economy. Prematurely granting China market economy status would completely undermine the effectiveness of our trade laws and further harm our industry,” said Thomas J. Gibson, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute.
Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing, stated, “For years China has promised to make changes to its state-sponsored economy, and for years Beijing has played by its own rules instead. We want to commend the Congressional Steel Caucus leadership for looking out for our manufacturing workers by offering this important resolution.”
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