Steel associations and a union have joined together on behalf of their U.S. members to voice their strong support for The Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis Act (SIMA, or H.R. 1068).

The industry emphasizes that the SIMA system is essential to help ensure fair trade in steel by providing policymakers in the Administration and Congress with the most timely and accurate information about this critical sector. In their support of SIMA, the associations and union are urging the Department of Commerce to both extend and enhance the current program. Canada and other U.S. trading partners have already enacted permanent steel import monitoring programs.

The steel industry has experienced significant transformation since the existing import monitoring system and associated tariffs were enacted. However, the industry and its workers are still vulnerable if trade laws are not effectively enforced and the domestic market witnesses another surge in unfairly traded steel imports. Congressmen English and Visclosky are commended for reintroducing, along with forty-eight cosponsors, legislation to maintain and make permanent the steel import monitoring program.

Import monitoring, which is specifically authorized under the World Trade Organization (WTO), does not limit or encumber imports in any way.