Wyden, Barrasso Introduce Bill to Help American Soda Ash Producers Compete in Global Market

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., introduced bipartisan legislation to maintain competitive royalty rates on America's natural soda ash, which is critical in manufacturing industrial products like glass. The Soda Ash Competitiveness Act will set the royalty rate on sodium compounds (and related products) produced from federal land at 2 percent for five years.

"Natural soda ash produced in the United States directly supports hundreds of jobs in Oregon and across the country and was the second largest export for the Port of Portland last year," Wyden said. "Continuing the royalty relief for domestic soda ash keeps the playing field level so American producers can stay competitive in a global market where China is gaming the system and producing synthetic soda ash exports at the expense of U.S. producers and the environment. The current royalty rate reduction is set to expire this year, so now is the time for the Senate to act and create certainty for this thriving American industry."

"American soda ash producers are battling unfair foreign trade practices of China and other countries. The last thing Washington should do is raise costs here at home," Barrasso said. "American soda ash production supports thousands of jobs across the country in a variety of sectors, including mineral production, shipping, and manufacturing. Our bipartisan bill will give American soda ash producers the certainty they need to stay competitive in the global market and keep these jobs here in the United States."

Senators Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., are original co-sponsors of the Soda Ash Competitiveness Act.

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