Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Visclosky trade amendment would light a fire under ITC in steel dumping cases

Back To Front Page

 

U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-1st, has offered an amendment to the Trade Promotion Authority legislation which would ensure that the U.S. Department of Commerce has the necessary information to make “better decisions” in trade cases.

That amendment would also bring up to date the definition of “material injury,” so that trade cases can be decided more quickly, before “American jobs are outsourced,” according to a statement released today by Visclosky’s office.

The amendment would do the following:

* Strengthen and improve anti-dumping and countervailing duty laws.

* Establish a means to petition Customs and Border Protection to take action in a timely manner to combat the evasion of anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders.

* Enhance the Department of Commerce’s ability to select appropriate facts when a foreign party fails to cooperate with an unfair trade investigation.

* Exclude the domestic steel industry’s profitability and its productivity from those reasons why the International Trade Commission that the International Trade Commission (ITC) might deny relief.

* Clarify those factors which the ITC should consider in making a determination of material injury.

* And decrease the time it takes the ITC to reach a determination.

“By the time American companies win a trade case, the American jobs have already been shipped overseas, never to return,” Visclosky said. “We must strengthen our trade laws so that American workers can compete on a level playing field.”

These provisions are included in H.R. 2523, the American Trade Enforcement Effectiveness Act, as well as in a House-approved customs measure and the companion Senate measure approved on June 12.

Visclosky supported the House-approved measure, H.R. 644, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. Because the House’s measure differs somewhat from the Senate’s, it is now subject to a House-Senate conference.

During a Rules Committee hearing, Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla), moved to order Rep. Visclosky’s amendment to Trade Promotion Authority. That motion was defeated by a 3-7 vote.

 

Posted 6/18/2015

 
 
 
 

 

 

Search This Site:

Custom Search