Letter to the Hon. Donald J. Trump, President - Take Strong, Bold Action to Stop Illegal Steel Imports and Support National Defense

Letter

Dear Mr. President:

The Congressional Steel Caucus has long recognized the fundamental and strategic importance of our domestic steel industry to America's national security. We hope that the Section 232 investigation conducted by the Department of Commerce will affirmatively recognize this clear connection and the destructive impact that unfairly and illegally traded foreign steel products have had on American producers and their workers.

To be effective, a Section 232 remedy must apply broadly to the full spectrum of steel products, avoid exceptions that could be exploited by dumping or circumvention by foreign producers, and be sustained for a significant period of time to ensure the industry's vitality.

In developing and implementing a remedy, it is imperative to recognize that the efforts to undermine the American steel industry are multifaceted. The domestic steel industry's ability to provide material to the military, electrical steel for the grid or drilling equipment for the energy industry may be fatally undermined if foreign countries and producers are allowed to destroy other lines of business that are critical to American steel producers' economic viability. Taking away one or two legs of a chair makes the entire platform unusable. A remedy must encompass the entirety of the American steel industry in order to safeguard our national security.

The Congressional Steel Caucus is committed to maintaining the strength of America's steel industry, ensuring the industry's ability to provide for our national defense and economic security, and supporting the communities and workers whose livelihoods depend on steelmaking. For these reasons, we encourage you to take strong, bold action to halt the unfair trade actions that have deeply harmed and continue to threaten one of our nation's foundational industries.

Sincerely,

Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA)
Rep. Peter J. Visclosky (D-IN)
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-NC)
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL)
Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA)
Rep. Richard M. Nolan (D-MN)
Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL)
Rep. David P. Joyce (R-OH)
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN)
Rep. Gene Green (D-TX)
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR)
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA)​