Former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and the CEO of Century Aluminum Headline Event to Attack Chinese Aluminum Subsidies
China Trade Task Force hosts distinguished panelists at the National Press Club to highlight how illegal Chinese subsidies are destroying thousands of American jobs
WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former Senator Majority Leader Trent Lott, the President & CEO of Century Aluminum Michael Bless and former Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade Grant Aldonas held a high level panel discussion today at the National Press Club to discuss China's manipulation of the global aluminum market.
China's illegal trade practices have collapsed the global price of aluminum to their lowest point since the Great Recession. And because of these illegal trade practices, the American aluminum industry – which employs over 10,000 hardworking men and women – is on the brink of collapse. Over the past several months, half of the aluminum smelters in the United States have been shut down. The remaining half will be shuttered in the next six to nine months.
Given the recent terrorist attacks, Senator Lott felt that China should not be allowed to have a monopoly on high purity aluminum which the U.S. government needs to manufacture F-35 fighter jets and body armor for our troops in combat. Senator Lott remarked that "we can't have something as critical as aluminum controlled by another country, especially due to the national security implications."
The President & CEO of Century Aluminum, Mike Bless pointed out that the U.S. aluminum industry can't compete with illegal Chinese subsidies that the communist leadership provides to state owned domestic producers. Mr. Bless remarked "the problem is here, it's growing, and it isn't going to go away." 10,600 American jobs are under threat as a result of communist China not playing by the rules. The former Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade Grant Aldonas remarked "big things are at risk if we do not step up to act now. The President and the folks at USTR need to be taking these steps now."
The Executive Director of the China Trade Task Force, Will Dempster told the crowd that "if the U.S. government acts decisively, we can save 10,000 high-paying, family supportive jobs and safeguard our national security. The U.S. government has the tools to solve the problem."
ABOUT US: China Trade Task Force is committed to supporting and saving tens of thousands of American jobs. The U.S. Aluminum market directly creates over 10,600 American jobs, indirectly supports tens of thousands more jobs and contributes over $6 billion in U.S. economic output each year. China is job hacking American workers and providing illegal subsidies to Chinese state owned aluminum producers. For more information, please visit us online at www.chinatradetaskforce.com
SOURCE China Trade Task Force
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