USW Notes Strong Senate Support for American Manufacturing; Trade Law Enforcement

PITTSBURGH, May 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) today lauded a bipartisan group of 57 Senators for urging Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker to thoroughly investigate the dumping of oil country tubular goods (OCTG) steel pipe in the U.S. market by South Korea. This support was presented in a letter organized by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH).

The letter to the Commerce Secretary stresses the economic importance of OCTG pipe to the future of U.S. energy independence and urges the Department to take action against any illegal dumping to the fullest extent of the law.

"This letter clearly demonstrates broad support by both political parties in the Senate for strong trade law enforcement," said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. "It is absolutely essential that our government ensure a level playing field for American workers and our manufacturers." 

The cross-aisle support includes 42 Democrats, 14 Republicans and one Independent along with nine Committee Chairs from 35 states.

The DOC is investigating the dumping of OCTG into the U.S. market from nine countries, including India, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam.

In its preliminary ruling on Feb. 19, DOC found that the imports of eight countries were dumped in American markets, resulting in duties of about three to 118 percent being levied on their OCTG imports. The DOC failed, however, to identify South Korea as dumping despite a majority of OCTG imports shipped from there as well as strong concerns being raised about their practices violating trade rules.

The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors.  For more information: http://www.usw.org/.

CONTACTS:
Wayne Ranick (412) 562-2444
[email protected]

Roy Houseman (202) 778-3312
[email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080131/DC12982LOGO

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)