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Ney Seeks Relief for Domestic Pipe Industry

Date: Nov. 18, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Trade


Ney Seeks Relief for Domestic Pipe Industry
11/18/05

WASHINGTON D.C. -- As part of his ongoing effort to push for tougher action against Communist China's unfair trade practices, Congressman Bob Ney (OH-18) today joined a number of his House colleagues in sending a letter to President George W. Bush that asked the President to provide quota relief for the American pipe industry.

The letter notes that between 2002 and 2004, imports of standard pipe from China have surged by over 2,600 percent: from 10,000 tons in 2002 to 270,000 tons in 2004. These same imports are on track to exceed 380,000 tons in 2005 and imports from China reached $22.7 billion in the month of August alone.

Under current law implemented during Congress' consideration of China's admission into the World Trade Organization, the President is given the authority to impose temporary relief in the form of a quota or other mechanism to offset the current situation which is considered an illegal trade practice.

"In October the International Trade Commission determined that surging imports from Communist China were a significant market disruption to the U.S. standard pipe industry," Ney said. "These predatory practices have caused U.S. workers to lose jobs and threaten to close plants across the country, including some in Ohio."

"We must stop Communist China from thumbing their noses at international fair trade rules and President Bush should do what is right for United States workers and impose quota relief at the pre-surge level of 90,000 tons annually. I also encourage my colleagues in Congress to take even stronger action by passing H.R. 728, which would repeal Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China. PNTR encourages corporations to send our jobs to China and bring Chinese products into the U.S. with little or no tariffs while China ignores fair trade rules. We must stand firm against this type of illegal practice and I will continue to push hard for tougher action," Ney concluded.

http://ney.house.gov/NewsCenter.aspx?A=411

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