WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today applauded the establishment of the Interagency Trade Enforcement Center (ITEC). Brown is the author of the Currency Exchange and Oversight Reform Act, legislation that represents the biggest bipartisan jobs bill—at no cost to U.S. taxpayers—passed by the Senate last year.

“For too long, American manufacturers have been playing by the rules while China cheats to give its exports an unfair advantage,” Brown said. “When China violates trade laws and provides illegal subsidies, the U.S. must have the resources to fight back and stand up for American manufacturers. The interagency center is the type aggressive approach that we need to rebuild American manufacturing and create jobs.”

Through the enforcement of trade law and the application of countervailing duties, Ohio jobs have been created. In December 2009 and September 2010, Brown testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on behalf of Ohio steel workers, including those at U.S. Steel in Lorain, V&M Star in Youngstown, and Wheatland Tube Co. in Warren. The ITC's ruling in the December 2009 case led to a border measure on imports to support domestic producers of steel pipe. By addressing illegal Chinese trade practices, this decision helped increase demand for domestic production. It also played a critical role in V&M Star's decision to build a new, $650 million seamless pipe mill in Youngstown, bringing an estimated 350 regional jobs along with it.

“The long-term economic health of our nation depends on our ability to manufacture and export,” Brown wrote in a letter to Vice President Biden today. “American manufacturers and workers can compete with anyone, but they must do so on a level playing field.  That is why we must utilize every available trade enforcement tools to ensure that other nations are playing fair.”

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