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Brown, Portman Hail Preliminary Pipe Ruling
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman are applauding the U.S. Commerce Department’s preliminary ruling on a petition in favor of defending companies operating in Ohio from illegally traded steel pipe by maintaining antidumping duties and countervailing duties on illegally subsidized and intentionally undersold Chinese steel pipe imports.
Tuesday's ruling follows efforts by Brown and Portman to urge Commerce officials to protect companies like V&M Star in Youngstown, Wheatland Tube Co. in Warren, TMK IPSCO in Brookfield and U.S. Steel in Lorain from unfair and illegal Chinese trade practices. The companies provide oil country tubular goods for domestic oil exploration, including the growing Ohio shale industry.
“This is great news for Ohio’s workers and manufacturers,” said Brown, D-Ohio, who visited with U. S. Steel CEO John Surma and United Steelworkers members at the company’s Lorain facility May 31. “As our trade deficit continues to widen, our need to level the playing field for them becomes more urgent. The Commerce Department’s ruling defends companies like U. S. Steel who work hard and play by the rules. Import duties ensure others do the same so we can continue to build things and create jobs in Ohio and the United States.”
“This preliminary ruling to crack down on foreign companies who attempt to circumvent the laws on the books and in turn put Ohio’s businesses and workers at risk is a step in the right direction,” Portman, R-Ohio, said. “Washington must stand up for American manufactured goods and ensure that they are on a level playing field with their global competitors.”
Last month Brown and Portman Urged Commerce to protect companies operating in Ohio from illegal Chinese trade practices by maintaining antidumping duties on Chinese steel pipe imports. Earlier in May, both senators applauded U.S. Steel’s announcement that it would consider expanding its steeling operations in Lorain. In December 2012, they led a group of senators in urging the department to maintain duties on Chinese steel pipe imports.
In 2009, Brown also testified before the International Trade Commission to advocate for the defense of U.S. steel and domestic steel pipe producers from unfair tube imports. The ITC's ruling led to a border measure on imports to support domestic producers of steel pipe.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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