Thomas Steel Strip Files Trade Action with ITC
WARREN, Ohio -- Spurred by a petition filed yesterday from a local steel company, the U.S. International Trade Commission has launched a preliminary investigation as to whether Japan has violated U.S. antidumping laws.
Thomas Steel Strip Corp., a division of the Indian conglomerate Tata Group, yesterday filed a petition with the ITC requesting it investigate whether Japan has engaged in dumping diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated flat-rolled steel products on the U.S. market.
The ITC's director of investigations has scheduled a conference related to the trade case for April 17. Unless an extension is granted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the ITC must reach a preliminary determination related to antidumping cases in 45 days, or in Thomas Steel's case, by May 20.
"I strongly support the petition filed by Thomas Steel Strip of Warren, who, along with the United Steelworkers of America, believe their industry is unfairly threatened by imports from Japan of diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated flat-rolled steel," U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-13, said in a statement.
Dumping refers to the practice of foreign companies shipping their products to the United States at or below cost, thereby undercutting domestic producers in this country.
Ryan, a longtime advocate of enforcing trade laws against countries that illegally dump goods on the U.S. market, says such practices place American companies at a competitive disadvantage, and as a result threaten the jobs and livelihoods of American workers.
Most notably, Ryan has led the charge in the U.S. House of Representatives to enforce trade sanctions against those countries that are found to manipulate their currencies, especially China, which allows them to sell their goods at prices that are in some cases 30% lower than American manufacturers.
"I have had the privilege on more than one occasion to testify on behalf of the American worker before the U.S. International Trade Commission," Ryan said. "We need to ensure that unfair trading practices don't put people out of work. I have always said the American worker is the best in the world – all we need to compete is a level playing field."
Phone calls seeking comment from Thomas Steel were not returned. The plant is temporarily shutdown until April 8 for routine maintenance, according to a security guard on duty there.
Once the ITC rules on the case, it will recommend to the Obama Administration whether or not to levy trade sanctions.
Domestic companies must demonstrate that their industry is materially injured from alleged unfair trade practices from another country
During his first term, Obama slapped trade sanctions on China after the ITC found that Chinese pipe and tube imports, as well as Chinese- manufactured tires, violated U.S. trade law.
Thomas Steel manufactures nickel-plated steel widely used in the commercial battery market. The company also manufactures steel that is used for automotive applications.
The company also manufactures steel that is used for automotive applications.
Copyright 2013 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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