Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) celebrated President Joe Biden’s push for new, increased tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum imports. The President’s announcement in Pittsburgh today centers on tripling the existing tariff rate on Chinese steel and aluminum to fight back against unfair and illegal competition from Chinese steel and aluminum imports, which are some of the most emissions-intensive in the world. Communist China’s violation of trade law through dumping and other activities for their steel and aluminum industries undercuts high-quality U.S. products by artificially suppressing the price of Chinese alternatives produced with higher emissions.
“President Biden’s moves today are a bold stand for American steel and steelworkers—and will help American steel hold its own against Communist China’s rampant violation of trade rules and laws,” said Rep. Deluzio. “Western Pennsylvania and our people made the steel that built America, but bad trade policies tried to strip our region for parts and ship our jobs overseas. The President’s tariffs and actions today will help further supercharge our domestic steel industry—especially in regions like ours. I support his work to implement strong tariffs that keep good, union jobs in America, grow American businesses, strengthen our supply chains, and hold job-stealing trade cheaters accountable.”
Congressman Deluzio is a strong advocate for American steelworkers and its domestic steel industry. He worked across party lines and successfully pushed for improvements to a Department of Energy rule, protecting more than 1,000 steelworker jobs at a union plant in Butler, PA. Congressman Deluzio is also fighting back against the proposed sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel because of his concerns with its impacts on steelworker jobs, domestic control of steel production, and national security. He hosted a United Steelworkers union member as his guest for an address by the Japanese Prime Minister, led his colleagues on letters including one to Treasury Secretary Yellen calling on her to investigate and block the sale, one demanding answers from Nippon Steel, and another letter raising concerns on the labor issues at play.
Under President Biden, investments in construction of new factories have more than doubled, after falling under the previous Administration even before the pandemic, while creating nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs and construction employment is at a record high. The United States’ trade deficit with China is the lowest it’s been in over a decade—lower than any year under the previous Administration. President Biden’s strategic trade and investment agenda protects workers, consumers, and businesses from unfair competition.
More specifically, the President’s announcement today includes the following:
CALL TO INCREASE TARIFFS:
To the extent consistent with the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) review of Section 301 tariffs and findings of her investigation, President Biden is calling for USTR to consider enhancing the effectiveness of tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum products by tripling them.
PUSH FOR INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION TO FIGHT ILLEGAL TRADE ‘DUMPING’:
President Biden’s Department of Commerce is taking action against countries and importers that do not play by the rules and flood the market with cheap products. Since President Biden took office, the Department of Commerce has imposed over 30 anti-dumping and countervailing duties on steel-related products. These are tariffs on steel imports that are priced below the fair and competitive value.
President Biden is directing his senior team to work with Mexico to jointly prevent China’s and other countries’ evasion of tariffs on steel and aluminum that is imported from Mexico into the United States. This is a growing challenge that must be addressed to prevent Chinese and others’ steel exports from gaining access to the U.S. market and evading Section 232 or Section 301 tariffs. President Biden recently sent senior members of his administration to Mexico to address this issue.
MORE INVESTIGATION INTO UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES IN CHINA:
The United States Trade Representative is initiating an investigation into China’s unfair trade practices in shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors. Under President Biden, the Department of Commerce has already conducted nearly 27 investigations into anti-competitive actions by Chinese exporters and efforts by countries like China to evade trade rules.
More details on today’s announcement are available on the White House’s website.
###
