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The federal government must enforce trade laws to stop steel dumping

The federal government must enforce trade laws to stop steel dumping

It’s hard to believe that almost 40 years after the collapse of our region’s steel-based economy, the federal government remains unable to do an adequate job of protecting key U.S. industries from unfair dumping by foreign trading partners.

We salute U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, for his continued leadership in convening the bipartisan steel caucus to investigate this issue and to demand action on enforcing fair trade. We remain committed to robust global trade; it has been essential to our region’s success in diversifying our economy into the knowledge-based, technology-driven place we enjoy today, with strengths in advanced manufacturing, finance, energy, health care and information technology.

The most recent example is the oldest, the battering that the domestic steel industry is taking at the hands of unfair foreign competition. China’s overcapacity is four times what the U.S. industry produces each year, much of which is dumped into Western markets, depressing prices, closing mills and costing thousands of jobs.

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Modern mills are prepared to compete in today’s global marketplace. Many of them here in our region are among the most efficient producers in the world, staffed by skilled, productive workers who have worked in partnership with management to improve products and processes and meet the needs of their customers, domestic and abroad. What they can’t do is compete with product pouring in from outside the country that is being sold below the cost of production.

A level playing field is vital to our success; that can happen only if trade laws are enforced and trade remains fair. We urge immediate and aggressive action on the part of the federal government to make this happen.

MATT SMITH
President
Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce
Downtown

First Published: April 18, 2016, 4:00 a.m.

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