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ROCKEFELLER URGES PRESIDENT TO WITHSTAND FOREIGN PRESSURE AND STAND UP FOR STEEL
Senator Denounces European Threats on Steel Tariffs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) again urged President Bush today to stand up against pressure from foreign nations and provide adequate relief to the American steel industry that has been damaged by illegally-subsidized, cheap steel imports. Rockefeller’s request to the President came in response to reports last week of European Union (EU) officials saying that the United States will pay a heavy price if Bush acts on Section 201 remedies. The EU has made repeated threats of retaliation if the United States acts under our 201 law.

"It is absolutely uncalled for to use threats and intimidation to try to prevent President Bush from taking long-overdue action under Section 201 to save the U.S. steel industry," Rockefeller said. "The right of the United States to impose temporary measures to support our struggling steel industry is provided under U.S. law and is consistent with World Trade Organization regulations."

Even before the Administration has made its decision on section 201 remedies, many European nations have indicated that they will challenge the legality of U.S. Section 201 tariffs at the World Trade Organization. Rockefeller believes that this threat of a legal challenge is intended to sway the Bush Administration into withholding the temporary tariff support the U.S. steel industry needs to survive.

"I have strongly urged the President to disregard these European threats and all other foreign pressure, and help protect American steel by imposing the highest tariffs recommended by the International Trade Commission," Rockefeller added.

In October 2001, the International Trade Commission voted unanimously that there had been injury to the U.S. steel industry because of illegally subsidized steel imports. Their remedy recommendations were sent to the President in December 2001. The President is expected to announce his decisions on remedies for the steel industry on March 6^th.

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