Imports

Landmark reforms were aimed at halting deforestation, illegal wood products

Washington, D.C. (Nov. 3) -- The Sierra Club and the United Steelworkers (USW) today voiced concerns over a decision by regulators to grant special exemptions for pulp and paper from the Lacey Act reforms of 2008.

These landmark reforms aim to protect the world’s forests and communities by halting the import and sale of illegally-sourced wood products in the U.S. Under the Lacey Act reforms importers must declare the country and harvest of origin for their products, an essential step to creating transparency in a previously unregulated market where US demand was driving deforestation around the world.

The concerns were submitted in joint comments to the Federal Register on Nov. 2.    » read more »

October 16, 2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon’s bill to ban imports of nuclear waste got a boost today when an official from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission confirmed the agency currently lacks the power and authority to stop imports and disposal of foreign-generated radioactive waste in the United States.    » read more »

Washington, DC (Oct. 15, 2009) – The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) began their investigation of the trade case filings by the United Steelworkers (USW) and three domestic companies against coated paper imports from China and Indonesia at a preliminary hearing yesterday.

“We have seen thousands of job losses by multiple plant shutdowns in coated paper manufacturing caused by imports since the period examined in the last petition to enforce fair trade rules against the flood of subsidized imports from Asia,” said Leo W. Gerard, USW international president.    » read more »

September 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke welcomes news that, effective today, China will remove the discriminatory taxes it has been imposing on imported auto parts. China had until September 1 to come into compliance with a WTO ruling that China’s auto policies were inconsistent with WTO rules.

The United States, along with Canada and the European Union, had welcomed that ruling. China’s Commerce Ministry and other government agencies announced action today abolishing the discriminatory taxes.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- Dearborn, MI—Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) made the following statement regarding the announcement that the U.S. has filed a World Trade Organization complaint against China for its export restraints on raw materials. The export restraints provide Chinese companies with an unfair competitive advantage over U.S. companies. Senator Stabenow has been leading the fight to hold accountable countries that practice unfair trade. Earlier this year, she introduced the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act of 2009 and is currently working on legislation that would expand our resources for trade enforcement.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, DC – The U.S. Trade Representative today formally launched a World Trade Organization (WTO) case to examine China’s raw material export restrictions. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley applauded the move, which is necessary to end unfair trade practices that have distorted economic incentives and hurt American businesses:

“Despite previous pledges, American companies continue to find it nearly impossible to purchase raw materials such as tin and zinc from China. Export tariffs and low quotas block access to this market, which gives Chinese enterprises an unfair advantage that violates clearly established WTO guidelines.    » read more »

Says ruling is positive step toward timely relief

June 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner released the following statement today after the International Trade Commission ruled yesterday that increased imports from China have injured domestic tire industry workers:

“This is a positive step toward timely import relief for our local tire workers,” said Senator Warner. “While the ruling confirms the unfortunate fact that U.S. tire workers have taken hits due to a surge in imports from China, I expect the ITC will use its honest and thorough analysis to recommend a remedy that will help our domestic tire industry get back on its feet.”    » read more »

Washington, D.C. -- June 18, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) said today that the International Trade Commission should recommend robust import relief following its conclusion announced this morning that a surge of imports of tires from China has injured domestic tire industry workers.    » read more »

Beijing’s actions pose unfair threat to workers in Fort Wayne area

June 18, 2009 -- Washington -- Senator Evan Bayh praised the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) today for determining that China is illegally dumping imported tires into the American market, causing a market disruption that should be remedied by U.S. government action.

The ruling will help workers at domestic tire manufacturers like the BF Goodrich Tire Manufacturing/Michelin North America Inc. plant in Woodburn, Indiana. The ITC was considering a petition initiated by the United Steel Workers alleging that an increase in imported Chinese tires has caused a steep decline in U.S. production, sales, profitability and employment.    » read more »

June 3, 2009 -- Washington – In testimony before the International Trade Commission Tuesday, U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) said Arkansas’s workers are entitled to compete on a fair playing field in our global marketplace.

Lincoln, testifying on behalf of Cooper Tire & Rubber Company employees in Texarkana, expressed support for a United Steelworkers (USW) petition filed earlier this year seeking relief from surging imports of consumer tires from China.    » read more »

Senator Seeks Relief for Companies Affected by Chinese Tire Imports

June 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today testified before the International Trade Commission (ITC) on behalf of workers at Denman Tire Company in Leavittsburg and Cooper Tire in Findlay. Brown petitioned the ITC for relief from excessive imports of passenger car and light truck tires from China that have had an adverse impact on Ohio companies and workers. A copy of Brown’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, can be found below.

I appear before you today in support of the workers in my state and around the country whose jobs have been lost or are on the line due to a surge in imports of passenger and light truck tires made in China.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW) will present testimony before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) Tuesday, Jun. 2, along with other USW officers involved with the domestic tire industry in a major trade case that seeks to stem the flood of imported consumer tires from China. Ten Members of Congress will also testify.    » read more »

Landrieu participates in Commerce Committee hearing on imported drywall; releases updated "Help Guide."

05/21/2009 -- WASHINGTON -- At the request of United States Senators Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Bill Nelson, D-Fla., the Senate Commerce Committee today held a public hearing to learn more about problems caused by tainted Chinese drywall and federal agencies' proposed response to protect consumers. Because thousands of Louisiana homes may contain the defective product, the Commerce Committee allowed Sen. Landrieu to attend and discuss the impact on Louisiana homeowners.    » read more »

Measure would provide duty free status for textiles and imported apparel from 14 Least Developed Countries, as defined by the United Nations

May 22, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Kit Bond (R-Mo.) have introduced a measure to provide trade relief for apparel and textiles imported from 14 of the world’s poorest nations. The legislation is intended to help some of these impoverished nations sustain vital export industries and promote economic growth and political stability.    » read more »

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam - 18 May 2009: IBM (NYSE: IBM) and FXA Group today announced a first of a kind collaboration with the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and the Vietnamese State Agency for Technological Innovation (SATI) that will accelerate the adoption of traceability solutions to improve global food safety.    » read more »