“The recent terrorist attacks serve as a crucial reminder
that steel provides the backbone for infrastructure and defense.”
-- Rep. Doyle

Washington, D.C. – Thursday, September 20, 2001 – U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (PA-18) testified before the International Trade Commission (ITC) today regarding the need for the ITC to issue and grant section 201 relief for our nation’s steel industry against illegal steel imports. Rep. Doyle’s testimony was part of the hearings the ITC scheduled in connection with its global safeguard investigation concerning steel imports.

“The U.S. steel industry has played by the rules and has modernized to become the most efficient producer of steel in the world,” stated Rep. Doyle. “Now that our domestic steel industry has done its part, I would respectfully submit that it is time for this Commission to do its part and grant section 201 relief.”

In June 2001, President Bush requested the ITC to undergo a Section 201 investigation of illegal steel imports and their effect upon the United States’ steel industry Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 was established to address cases where domestic industries have been seriously injured or are threatened with serious injury by increased imports. Once petitioned by the impacted industry, the ITC determines whether a product is being imported at levels that have or could harm the domestic industry.

If the ITC decides injury has occurred, it recommends to the President relief that would remedy the injury and facilitate industry adjustments to import competitions. The President makes the final decision whether to provide relief and the nature of the relief, meaning relief is completely discretionary. Section 201 does not require a finding of unfair trade practice, but rather, depends only on a finding that increased imports are causing serious injury.

“As a direct result of the most recent wave of steel imports, more than 23,000 jobs have been lost and ten steel companies have filed for bankruptcy in the last year alone. And the vicious cycle continues, but this time it is not because the industry needs to become more efficient. The cycle is now being needlessly propelled because foreign governments refuse to play fair and have chosen instead to violate WTO-sanctioned rules of fair trade. It is of the utmost importance for you to make an affirmative determination that increased waves of steel imports have caused substantial and serious injury to our domestic steel industry,” Rep. Doyle urged.

Rep. Doyle has been a member of the Congressional Steel Caucus since he was first elected to Congress in 1995. Preserving the long-term vitality of the domestic steel industry and protecting steelworkers’ jobs nationwide has been an ongoing issue addressed by the Steel Caucus.

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Copies of Rep. Doyle’s statement is available by contacting Tina Maggio at 202.225.2135