USW Praises Continued Duties on Tin Sheet Imports From Japan

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The USW said today's vote to affirm continued duties on tin-coated steel imports from Japan is recognition of the vulnerability that still exists for American steelworkers whose jobs depend on fair trade for steel products covered by duty orders.

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"We appreciate the 6-0 unanimous vote of the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) that sends a strong message for support of the domestic tin mill industry and the current anti-dumping order on imports from Japan," USW President Leo W. Gerard said. The major domestic tin-coated steel producers employing USW members are: ArcelorMittal, U.S. Steel Corp.,  USS-Posco Industries, R-G Steel Corp., and Ohio Coatings Co.

Gerard said testimony by the domestic steel companies and the USW at last month's five-year sunset review hearing presented a good case on the incentives for Japanese mills to ship significant volumes to the U.S. "If the duties were allowed to expire, a flood of tin sheet imports would have quickly depressed fair prices, putting at risk the jobs of 3,000 USW-represented steelworkers and the American industry."

USW Local 2911 President Mark Glyptis testified at the ITC review hearing on behalf of the 900 steelworkers employed at his ArcelorMittal mill in Weirton, WV. "We are pleased at getting the ITC's affirmative vote," he said. "My grandfather, my father and now I have worked at Weirton. The steelworkers have done much to make our mill world-class, but if the Japanese producers are permitted to sell dumped tin mill products in the U.S. again, Weirton would be seriously threatened."

The USITC ruling was a second Sunset review for Tin- and Chromium-Coated Steel Sheet from Japan since tariffs were first applied in 2000. Congressman Pete Visclosky (D-IN) was joined by 14 other Members of Congress in sending a bipartisan letter to the USITC to urge continuation of the anti-dumping order on imports of tin mill products from Japan. Visclosky said: "If the order is revoked, the U.S. tin mill industry would see a significant surge in Japanese products, and this would be devastating for American jobs."

Contact: Gary Hubbard, 202-256-8125, [email protected]

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)