Letter to Irving Williamson, Chairman of the US International Trade Commission - Urging Continuation Of Trade Penalties on Imported Rebar to Protect U.S. Jobs

Letter

The Honorable Irving A. Williamson
Chairman
U.S. International Trade Commission
500 E Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20436

Re: Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar from Belarus, China, Indonesia, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine, Inv. Nos. 731-TA-873-875, 878-880, and 882

Dear Chairman Williamson,

We are writing to urge you to maintain the existing antidumping ("AD") orders against unfairly-traded imports of steel concrete reinforcing bar ("rebar") from Belarus, China, Indonesia, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine. The continuation of these trade orders is necessary to prevent further injury to an already vulnerable domestic rebar industry and its workers.

As Senators from steel producing states, we are concerned about the impact of unfairly-traded imports on American jobs. On November 23, 2012, a review by the U.S. Department of Commerce found that if the orders were not maintained, producers in these seven countries would resume dumping rebar into the United States at margins ranging from 16.99 percent to 232.86 percent. The Department's review demonstrates that these imports would depress U.S. prices and injure domestic industries.

At the same time, rebar producers in these countries continue to increase their production well in excess of demand, and continue to add new capacity. For instance, Ukraine has nearly doubled its capacity since 2006, and China's oversupply caused by overproduction and a market slowdown, still produces significant quantities that could flood the U.S. market. Further, with economic slowdowns in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, foreign producers in these countries will send their excess steel into the United States.

It is essential that we do all we can to prevent unfairly priced imports from destroying good-paying American jobs. Accordingly, we strongly urge you to maintain the existing orders against unfairly traded imports of rebar. The U.S. steel industry depends on the full and fair enforcement of the trade laws of the United States.

Thank you for in advance for your time and consideration of this critical issue.