“For months, our union has warned the Department of
Commerce, the U.S. Trade Representative, the public and others that a flood of
illegally subsidized and unfairly traded oil country tubular goods (OCTG) poses
a significant and immediate threat to American steel companies and the jobs of
our members.
“In addition, because of these imports and lax enforcement
of existing trade laws, the domestic steel industry has yet to see the promised
and expected benefits brought about by increased shale oil and gas energy
production throughout America’s industrial heartland.
“The USW demands an immediate investigation into how a trade
partner such as South Korea, which produces 100 percent of its steel tubular
goods for export because it has no domestic market, has managed to conduct
business here without regulation or any kind of fair tariff in place.
“For the workers and families in McKeesport, Pa. and
Bellville, Texas, the USW pledges to continue fighting for a fair and level
playing field so that American workers can get back to their rightful jobs as
soon as possible.
“The USW will continue to be an outspoken advocate for
workers who have paid and continue to pay the price for unfair ‘free’ trade,
which remains the single most dangerous threat to the good, family-supporting,
community-sustaining jobs the USW strives to create and protect.”
The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals,
mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the
energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public
sector and service occupations.
Source: USW
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