After the Trump administration announced new initiatives to address circumvention and evasion of US trade laws, representatives from different sectors of the US steel industry responded with positive remarks.
One order directs the Department of Commerce to review in the next three months reasons for US trade deficits and all violations of trade rules with every trading partner. The other order directs the DOC to be more aggressive in collecting import taxes. According to the National Trade Council, approximately $2.8 billion in import taxes have not been collected since 2001.
Thomas J. Gibson, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), said the executive orders provide “key guidance” on the AISI’s urging of the government to take aggressive action on trade, "especially with regard to increased enforcement and an enhanced look at AD/CVD duty collection at our borders.”
Gibson said the AISI is “pleased that the president and his team remain committed to leveling the playing field for American manufacturing, and we look forward to continuing the steel industry’s strong role in working with Administration to combat these unfair practices and ensure a fair and competitive global trade arena.”
The United Steelworkers (USW) also applauded the executive orders, with President Leo W. Gerard saying that “enforcement is a never-ending task, but it is critical to saving the jobs of millions of Americans in steel, aluminum, tire and many other sectors. For example, farmers and ranchers are also confronted by similar problems.”
Gerard added that “Customs should be doing its job and providing the resources to enforce our trade laws. Action on this issue should not solely focus on collecting federal revenues. The priority of our government here should be fair trade to protect every job.”
Gerard pointed out that laws were tightened in a bipartisan effort in the last Congress, “and those changes have made a real difference. Expanded authorities and efforts are critical because, without them, other countries will keep flooding our market with their unfairly traded products. Enforcing our trade laws must be a national security priority as predatory trade actions have undermined our industrial base. Today's announcements have to be followed by serious, continued and comprehensive action.”