[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 150 (Tuesday, October 20, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REGARDING STEEL IMPORTS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL F. DOYLE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 15, 1998

  Mr. DOYLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge support for the 
resolution offered by my colleague from Ohio. Along with my friends 
from Indiana and Ohio, and many other Members of the House who have 
been working to get debate and a fair vote on this issue--I am deeply 
concerned about the current crisis in the U.S. steel industry. We are 
worried about this steel crisis and we want to send a strong message to 
the White House.
  The U.S. steel industry and its workers are suffering tremendously 
from reduced orders, as a result of dumping by Asian and Russian 
producers. But the Administration has not acted to stop this illegal 
practice.
  The Members of the European Union have been smart enough to protect 
their steel industry from dumping by erecting temporary barriers to 
steel imports during the financial crisis. Their steel industry will 
weather this storm.
  American steel workers--the most efficient in the world--cannot 
continue to be besieged by foreign steel products while waiting 
indefinitely for trade cases to be settled. Damage to the American 
steel industry is extensive, severe, and rapidly growing.
  I want to say that I do think there is a legitimate role for the 
United States, Japan, the European Union, and others to play, together, 
to help Russia and the newly industrialized Asian countries get through 
this economic crisis. But the American steel industry cannot and should 
not shoulder the burden alone.
  Just recently, just in the Pittsburgh area, Riverview Steel in 
Glassport, and a number of other steel producers have been forced out 
of business by unfair imports. Steel has already been through tough 
times in our lifetimes--but the industry has come back more competitive 
than ever. The current steel crisis is an external, macroeconomic 
problem that is unfairly impacting American workers. We already have 
the laws in place to address this problem. We need to act now to stop 
another hollowing out of American industry, by acting to stop illegal 
dumping.
  This House must act today to urge concrete measures on the 
Administration to stop the flow of dumped steel. The Traficant 
Resolution makes the strongly worded statement that needs to be made on 
this subject. Although it's non-binding, the Traficant Resolution would 
call on the Administration to investigate these low-priced steel 
imports for 10 days. If the Asians, former Soviet states, or anyone 
else is flouting international trade agreements, the President should 
impose a 1-year ban on steel imports from that country. By asking for 
these actions, the Traficant Resolution is making a real statement. 
This is not just some toothless piece of paper that would make this 
issue go away. Because this issue will not go away.
  I urge my colleagues to think over this serious problem, and vote in 
favor of the Traficant Resolution.

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