Category: News || By Submitted Report

U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle reacted angrily today to the announcement that U.S. Steel will stop production at its McKeesport Tubular Operations facility.

"This is devastating news for our community, especially the workers who are being laid off," said Doyle, Forest Hills Democrat, whose district includes the Mon-Yough area.

Doyle said his office, along with U.S. Steel and the United Steelworkers union, has been urging U.S. trade agencies to fight back against illegal dumping of foreign-made pipe and tube "for a year now." But, he said,the Obama administration's response has been "completely inadequate."

"My heart goes out to those workers and their families, and I promise them that I will do everything in my power to get the McKeesport facility back up and running," he said. "This is just the latest example of foreign trade practices hurting American manufacturers and destroying American jobs."

. . .

Doyle said steel products being dumped --- sold below their cost --- by foreign companies are often subsidized by their countries' governments, which is a violation of international trade laws.

He said foreign imports of tubular goods for use in the oil and gas industries have more than doubled in recent years; they now make up half of the pipes purchased for oil and gas production in the United States.

Doyle said he sent a letter last summer to the International Trade Commission urging the federal government to take action to counter foreign dumping of tubular goods. The Commerce Department imposed duties on some imports in February, but Doyle said U.S. actions "to date have not leveled the playing field."

"As long as foreign producers are allowed to illegally dump their products in the US market, hardworking American families and American businesses will pay the price," Doyle said. "Rest assured we'll continue to pressure the Commerce Department and the administration to take forceful action against illegal imports of pipes, tubes and other steel products."