WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) are applauding the ruling from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) siding with American tire workers to fully and fairly enforce U.S. trade remedy laws. Brown and Portman have led efforts in pressing the ITC to give full and fair consideration to the United Steelworker’s petitions in these cases of unfairly traded imports.

“For too long, trade cheats have shuttered plants across our state, put Ohioans out of work, and distorted global markets,” said Brown. “This ruling is a big step in the right direction, affirming our trade remedy laws, and making clear the U.S. takes these harmful practices seriously and will help keep Ohio workers on the job.”

“U.S. passenger vehicle and lightweight tire manufacturers and their workers have suffered for years from unfairly traded tire imports,” said Portman. “I was pleased to advocate for American tire workers before the ITC in this case, and today’s determination reinforces the importance of strong enforcement of U.S. trade laws. The Department of Commerce is now able to issue antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders, allowing U.S. tire manufactures to finally have a level playing field.”

“Tire worker jobs across the country just became a bit more secure with this union-led trade investigation to hold dumped and subsidized tire producers accountable. The United Steelworkers wish to thank Senators Brown and Portman for their support in our trade case on Passenger Vehicle Light Truck (PVLT) tires and look forward to working with their offices to improve our trade laws with Leveling the Playing Field Act 2.0,” said United Steel Workers President, Tom Conway.

For years, United Steelworkers at tire companies in Ohio, have found themselves at a severe competitive disadvantage due to unfairly traded foreign imports. The United Steelworkers’ trade petitions seek to secure relief for their members in the tire industry to ensure the U.S. tire industry can compete on a level playing field. 

In May, Brown and Portman wrote to the U.S. ITC Chairmen, urging the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to side with American tire workers. The senators’ letter followed their bipartisan bill known as Leveling the Playing Field 2.0 introduced earlier this year to strengthen U.S. trade remedy laws and ensure they remain effective tools to fight back against unfair trade practices and protect workers at tire companies like Goodyear and across the country.

This legislation builds upon the Leveling the Playing Field Act, a bill signed into law by former President Obama in 2015, that gives U.S. companies new tools to fight against unfair trade practices. 

 

###