Southern Illinois Delegation Pursues Answers on Foreign Steel Dumping

WASHINGTON – Today, Reps. Mike Bost (IL-12), Rodney Davis (IL-13) and John Shimkus (IL-15) sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker urging a meeting to discuss trade enforcement-related matters. The delegation’s request comes in the wake of U.S. Steel’s recent announcement that they may temporarily idle operations at their Granite City Works facility. 

“We must work together on behalf of our steelworkers and their families to ensure this rollercoaster ride doesn’t continue,” said Rep. Bost. “Rep. Davis and I were successful in securing enhanced trade remedies to protect against illegal trade practices. I am eager to hear from the Department of Commerce how these provisions will be implemented and help restore certainty and ensure that our efforts to put American workers on an even playing field in the global marketplace are successful.”

“Steelworkers in my district cannot wait for the federal government to implement trade provisions that were signed into law months ago,” said Rep. Davis. “We need the U.S. Department of Commerce to act now. We need them to implement the changes my colleagues and I authored to hold countries who break our trade laws accountable and prevent further job loss within our steel industry.”

“Trade legislation signed in the law earlier this year included important anti-dumping and countervailing duties provisions authored by Reps. Bost and Davis,” said Rep. Shimkus. “It’s imperative that we get an update on the implementation of these provisions before the House considers any new trade agreement with countries that may have engaged in unfair trade practices.”

Currently, three anti-dumping and countervailing duty petitions filed by several companies in the domestic steel industry are before the International Trade Commission (ITC). Earlier this year, the President signed into law a provision Bost and Davis introduced to protect American workers from the illegal dumping of foreign products in U.S. markets.

A copy of the letter sent to Secretary Pritzker can be found HERE. 

###