Klobuchar, Franken, and Bipartisan Group of Senators Push Administration for Renewed Emphasis on Enforcement to Tackle Steel Overcapacity

Press Release

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, and a bipartisan group of senators, have pushed the Administration for renewed emphasis on enforcement to tackle steel overcapacity. Despite multiple dialogues on steel-related issues with the U.S. this year, China has not yet taken permanent steps to reduce its total steel production capacity. In a letter to the President, Klobuchar, Franken, and a bipartisan group of senators urged the Administration to consider all options for increasing China's compliance with its international trade obligations, including a potential case brought with allies at the World Trade Organization and a pause of other trade negotiations with China, such as the Bilateral Investment Treaty talks.

"We urge the Administration to consider all options for increasing China's compliance with its international trade obligations, including a potential case brought with our allies at the World Trade Organization and a pause of other trade negotiations with China, such as the Bilateral Investment Treaty talks," the lawmakers wrote. "Diplomatic pressure, even if made with our allies, has not been sufficient to change government subsidy policies, state-owned enterprise involvement in the market, and access to free capital that allows unprofitable steel companies to pump excess steel products into the market. Only if we incorporate strong enforcement measures into our strategy to reduce excess global capacity will U.S. steel companies and steelworkers get the relief they need."

The letter, which was also signed by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Rob Portman (R-OH), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), John Boozman (R-AR), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), Richard Burr (R-NC), Robert P. Casey Jr. (D-PA), James M. Inhofe (R-OK), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), follows the G-20 summit talks on steel in September.

In February, after efforts from Klobuchar and Franken, the Administration announced new actions to combat steel dumping. The actions included new Customs and Border Patrol personnel to enforce our trade laws, stepped up inspections of steel imports at our ports of entry, and increased personnel at the Commerce Department to help ensure tariffs are enforced against those who dump steel in the U.S. The President also signed legislation that provides additional tools to more aggressively enforce anti-dumping provisions under existing federal law.

Klobuchar and Franken have been leaders in efforts to fight foreign steel dumping and provide support for our U.S. steelworkers and miners affected by recent layoffs. Klobuchar and Franken have introduced legislation to crack down on illegal steel dumping by strengthening trade enforcement. Following consistent pressure from the lawmakers last year, the International Trade Commission voted to impose penalties on Mexican, Turkish, and Korean companies dumping steel in the U.S. They also sent a letter with Representative Rick Nolan to successfully urge the U.S. Department of Labor to expedite approval of TAA petitions submitted by workers from the affected mining operations.

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