Steelworkers Union Calls for More Action on Unfair Steel Trading
07/01/2016 - The United Steelworkers union said that while it welcomes a commitment to coordinating trade enforcement efforts throughout North America as a means to curbing the world’s excess steel capacity, more aggressive action is needed.
"Ensuring that our three countries have a comprehensive, coordinated strategy will help to address unfair trade practices. But the overarching issue is how to deal with global overcapacity in steel and other sectors, largely fueled by China's massive government support for these industries,” USW International President Leo W. Gerard said in a statement.
"For North America to coordinate anti-dumping and countervailing duty strategies is important, but it's only part of the answer," Gerard said.
The statement follows the North American Leaders’ Summit in Ottawa, Ontario, this week. The summit brought together leaders of the three countries, who, among other things, agreed that the governments of the world’s steel-producing countries should curtail subsidies that support inefficient and unneeded capacity.
They also agreed to establish a formal dialogue within the North American Steel Trade Committee to facilitate the sharing of information and coordinate on compliance efforts.
“The three countries … recognize the critical need for customs agencies to work together to ensure robust trade enforcement, including increased information sharing on high-risk shipments and on broader trends concerning potential circumvention and evasion,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement.
"For North America to coordinate anti-dumping and countervailing duty strategies is important, but it's only part of the answer," Gerard said.
The statement follows the North American Leaders’ Summit in Ottawa, Ontario, this week. The summit brought together leaders of the three countries, who, among other things, agreed that the governments of the world’s steel-producing countries should curtail subsidies that support inefficient and unneeded capacity.
They also agreed to establish a formal dialogue within the North American Steel Trade Committee to facilitate the sharing of information and coordinate on compliance efforts.
“The three countries … recognize the critical need for customs agencies to work together to ensure robust trade enforcement, including increased information sharing on high-risk shipments and on broader trends concerning potential circumvention and evasion,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement.
