US Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) is urging the Obama administration to protect Paulding County’s cement industry and the thousands of local jobs it supports.
In a letter to United States Trade Representative Michael Froman, Brown called for the Administration to crack down on Canada’s attempt to illegally subsidize a cement plant in Quebec, which would specifically target the US market, hurting the ability of local manufacturers to compete. US cement companies would be affected, including Lafarge North America, which has a plant in Paulding.
“Paulding County workers can compete with anyone when given a level playing field,” Brown said.
“But if countries like Canada illegally subsidize their industries, and target the US market, it gives their products an unfair advantage. I urge the administration to investigate the nearly $500 million subsidy package proposed for the Quebec plant, which will directly compete with Lafarge North America’s facility in Paulding. Actions must be taken in order to protect Paulding jobs and the economy of Northwest Ohio.”
Specifically, the Canadian federal government and Quebec are seeking to offer a nearly half billion dollar financial package to McInnis Cement to help its startup in Port-Daniel-Gascons, Quebec.
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