Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) said on Tuesday that the Department of Commerce’s decision to enforce preliminary dumping duties on imported rebar from Mexico and Turkey was good news for U.S. steelworkers.
Portman joined a bipartisan group of 31 senators earlier this month who urged the Department of Commerce to investigate illegal dumping and subsidies on unfairly traded steel reinforcing bars in a letter to Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker.
“This ruling is good news for thousands of Ohio steelworkers in Marion, Cincinnati and beyond,” Portman said. “Just last week I visited Byer Steel and saw firsthand how Ohio steelworkers can compete and win on a level playing-field. Washington must stand up for American manufactured goods, and (Tuesday’s) ruling is a step in the right direction to prevent unfairly traded rebar from threatening jobs here at home.”
Illegally dumped rebar imports undercut U.S. steel manufacturers and jeopardize the jobs of steelworkers.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) said the Department of Commerce’s announcement has been “highly anticipated” by the U.S. steel industry.
“While I am pleased that Mexican rebar producers received preliminary dumping margins from the Department of Commerce, I am concerned dumping margins found for the Turkish companies will not remedy the harm caused to the U.S. industry by imports from Turkey,” Brown said. “It is critical that we fully enforce our trade laws to ensure that American companies compete on a level playing field. As the Commerce Department continues its investigation, I urge close review of the case evidence to ensure the U.S. industry receives the full relief allowed under U.S. trade law.”