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REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE CONTINUATION OF THE ANTIDUMPING AND COUNTERVAILING ORDERS IMPOSED ON HOT-ROLLED STEEL FROM BRAZIL, JAPAN, AND RUSSIA.
Whereas, our state's steel producers and other domestic steel producers are currently involved in a five-year sunset review proceeding before the United States International Trade Commission regarding antidumping and countervailing orders on hot-rolled steel from Brazil, Japan, and Russia; and
Whereas, the United States Department of Commerce issued antidumping and countervailing orders on hot-rolled steel in 1999, to remedy serious injury to the domestic steel industry caused by the flooding of the United States steel market by government subsidized steel products from various nations; and
Whereas, Brazil, Japan, and Russia built much of their steel capacity using unfair government subsidies, and it is predicted that absent a continuation of the antidumping and countervailing orders, the United States will be the first target for dumping of excess steel significantly undermining the domestic steel industry's ability to compete fairly; and
Whereas, the State of South Carolina has been seriously harmed due to illegal international trade practices causing the loss of more than 71,000 South Carolina jobs, representing a loss of almost twenty-one percent of all factory jobs in the State; and
Whereas, the domestic steel industry remains vulnerable to injury from dumped imports arising primarily from subsidized foreign producers and would face heavy financial losses and turbulent times without a continuation of the orders to protect against the illegal dumping of these products, which would seriously impact hundreds of South Carolina's workers and families and our state's economy; and
Whereas, it is critical to the domestic steel industry for the United States International Trade Commission to continue the antidumping and countervailing orders in place on hot-rolled steel from Brazil, Japan, and Russia. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the Senate request that the United States International Trade Commission approve the continuation of the antidumping and countervailing orders imposed on hot-rolled steel from Brazil, Japan, and Russia.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the United States Trade Commission.
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