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English Seeks to Expand Import Monitoring Program
"SHARON, Pa. -- As the steel-import monitoring program nears its expiration, U.S. Rep. Phil English (R, Pa.-3) today said he is introducing legislation to require the U.S. Commerce Department to expand and permanently track certain imports of steel products. The program is set to expire March 20."Today, I am announcing my bipartisan bill to expand and make permanent the vital steel import monitoring program and further guard against the kind of surge in steel imports that devastated our domestic industry and put many thousands out of work six years ago," said English, a member of the House Ways and Means Trade subcommittee. "This program has been an indispensable tool for our steel producers and policymakers to better track the heavily distorted global steel sector and take appropriate action. We must not allow the steel import monitoring mechanism to expire."English, who serves as chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, announced his legislation during a press event at Wheatland Tube. The bill, the congressman said, would expand the steel-import monitoring program to cover all basic steel products covered by the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule. This would include these tariff headings: mill products; rails, structurals, pipe and tubes, fittings and flanges; fabricated structurals; barrels and drums; strand and rope; barbed fence wires; and fabricated wire. This would not inhibit imports nor would it directly contribute to price increases for covered products, according to English. "As a domestic pipe and tube producer, Wheatland Tube has used this program to monitor import trends of welded tubular products, which continue to be a concern to our company, said the company's vice president, Bill Kerins. "The entire domestic steel industry stands behind this legislation and we applaud the leadership of Congressman English on this issue."English has been chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus for four years and has led initiatives to guard the steel industry and manufacturing sectors against unfair trade. The caucus has urged the Bush Administration to use its rule-making authority to make the steel import monitoring program permanent before it expires."