WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded the International Trade Commission’s (ITC) preliminary decision that domestic steel producers – like Warren’s Energex/JMC and Brookfield’s TMK IPSCO – are being undermined due to illegally dumped imports of Welded Line Pipe from Korea and Turkey.

“A strong, sustainable American steel industry is critical to our growing energy sector and our overall economy,” Brown said. “While Ohio companies are among the most efficient and competitive in the world, it’s critical that we enforce trade law sustainability and quality of our nation’s steel industry.” 

Brown, along with U.S. Sens. John D. Rockefeller (D-WV), called for ITC Chair Meredith Broadbent to move the investigation forward and address the influx unfairly traded certain welded line pipe imports of from Korea and Turkey. The senators noted that while production of oil and gas has increased in the U.S., the domestic steel industry has not benefited from the increased demand because of artificially low imports.

Full text of last week’s letter is below.

November 19, 2014

The Honorable Meredith Broadbent

Chairman

U.S. International Trade Commission

500 E Street, S.W.

Washington, DC  20436

 

RE:     Certain Welded Line Pipe From Korea and Turkey

Investigation Nos. 701-TA-524-525 and 731-TA-1260-61 (Preliminary)

 

Dear Chairman Broadbent,

We write to express our support for the antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations on imports of Certain Welded Line Pipe from Korea and Turkey.  As the Commission begins the preliminary phase of the investigation, we urge you to consider fully the impacts of unfairly traded certain welded line pipe imports have had on the domestic industry and vote to proceed with the investigation.  We ask that this letter be included into the record for the Preliminary Conference which will be held at the Commission on November 6, 2014.

The petitioners in these cases represent a majority of domestic welded line pipe manufacturers and have facilities and workers across the country.  Due to increased production of oil and gas in the U.S., demand for welded line pipe has increased.  Unfortunately, the increase in demand has not benefited U.S. companies.  These producers are facing significant economic challenges due to growing levels of dumped and subsidized imports form Korea and Turkey.  

As the co-chairs of the Senate Steel Caucus, we strongly support a viable American steel sector and believe its sustainability is critical to our growing energy sector and our overall economy.  The domestic industry has become among the most globally efficient and competitive but it cannot compete on an unlevel playing field.  We urge you to allow the investigation to proceed to ensure that the industry can obtain the necessary relief from these unfairly traded imports. 

Thank you for this opportunity to provide our comments in support of this industry and its workers.

Sincerely,

 

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