Ruling to help U.S. steel industry

AK Steel in Middletown could benefit.

The International Trade Commission Friday ruled that the U.S. steel industry is being unfairly undercut by steel producers from Brazil, India, Korea and the United Kingdom.

The decision effectively locks in antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of cold-rolled steel flat products from those countries. The commission also ruled that imports from Russia were not injuring the U.S. industry.

The commission’s ruling follows one by the U.S. Commerce Department that found that those products were being sold in the U.S. at below fair market value.

The ruling follows June’s unanimous ruling that the American steel industry has been materially injured by imports of cold-rolled steel from China and Japan. The steel is a type of steel rolled at near room temperature.

The decision will have an impact on U.S. Steel, with locations in Lipsec and Lorain; Nucor, with locations in Cincinnati, Marion and Orrville; ArcelorMittal, with locations in Cleveland, Columbus, Marion, Pioneer, Richfield, Shelby and Warren; and AK Steel, with locations in Coshocton, Mansfield, Middletown, Walbridge and Zanesville, according to Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

Brown and Sen. Rob Portman praised the ruling in separate statements.

“Nearly 1,500 Ohio steelworkers were laid off last year through no fault of their own,” Portman said. “Today the ITC recognized exactly what I told them: that unfair, dishonest practices from competitors in these countries are hurting our communities.”

He called the ruling “another step in leveling the playing field, and it is another win for Ohio steelworkers.”

Brown said he was disappointed that the commission did not call out Russia for unfair trade practices, but said the ruling against Brazil, India, South Korea and the United Kingdom is “a good step forward.”

“Unfair trade practices threaten the stability of our steel industry — putting Ohio jobs at risk and hurting the economy,” he said. . “When other countries don’t play by the rules, the U.S. government must take action to protect American manufacturers.”

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