Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro), Co-Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, joined a select, bipartisan group of lawmakers at the White House to meet with President Donald Trump about steel trade policy. The administration is currently reviewing recommendations from the Department of Commerce following its investigation into the national security implications of unfairly traded foreign steel imports. Bost detailed the negative impact that these imports have had on Granite City Works, which temporarily idled operations in 2015 and laid off over 2,000 employees.
“American steel jobs are at risk due to global competitors who refuse to play by the rules”, said Bost. “We’ve seen the harm that unfair and illegal trade practices have done to our steel industry right in Madison County, with the idling of Granite City Works and layoffs at Alton Steel. That’s why it’s vitally important for President Trump to take action to ensure U.S. companies and workers have the ability to compete on an even playing field. I have no doubt in my mind that the American steelworker is second to none when competing on equal footing.”
The purpose of the Section 232 investigation is to determine whether imports are harmful to national security and whether measures should be taken to protect domestic industries critical to national security. The Commerce Department report summarizing findings from the Section 232 investigation was delivered to the President on January 11, 2018. The Administration has 90 days following the delivery of the report to decide on any potential action.
Link to the video of Congressman Bost’s statement to President Trump
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