Henry Brown Testifies Before International Trade Commission

HENRY BROWN TESTIFIES BEFORE INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Date: 3/2/2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Henry Brown today offered testimony before the United States International Trade Commission concerning the positive effects of antidumping and countervailing duty orders on hot-rolled steel imports.

"I have a special perspective on the American steel industry because the last Greenfield hot-rolled steel mill built in the United States was built by Nucor in Berkeley County, South Carolina, in 1998," Brown said. He described the facility as "one of the most efficient in the world, with world-class technology, world-class management and the best production workers anywhere."

Brown explained that superior technology, efficiency and labor can be undermined when unfairly traded imports are allowed to swamp the industry. "The rest of the world is adding hot-rolled steel capacity at a startling rate," he said. "Countries overbuild steel capacity, and when their domestic market slows down, they turn to the biggest and most open steel market in the world - the United States."

These "dumping" practices have a negative impact on the entire American steel industry. Another First Congressional District employer, International Steel Group's Georgetown plant, is dealing with these unfair practices.

He concluded his remarks by urging the Commission to support continuation of the Countervailing Duty Order, Antidumping Duty Order and Suspension Agreement on hot-rolled steel from Brazil, Japan and Russia.

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