    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [March 5, 2002]
    [Pages 347-349]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Decision To Impose Temporary Safeguards To Help the
    Domestic Steel Industry
    March 5, 2002

        Free trade is an important engine of economic growth and a
    cornerstone of my economic agenda. My administration has successfully
    launched new global trade talks, reignited the movement for free trade
    within our own hemisphere, and helped bring China and Taiwan into the
    World Trade Organization. To open even more markets to American
    products, I have urged the Senate to grant me the trade promotion

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    authority I need to create jobs and greater opportunities for U.S.
    workers and farmers.
        An integral part of our commitment to free trade is our commitment
    to enforcing trade laws to make sure that America's industries and
    workers compete on a level playing field. Free trade should not mean lax
    enforcement. Consistent with this commitment, last June I launched a
    three-part initiative designed to restore market forces to world steel
    markets. This initiative includes international discussion to encourage
    the reduction of excess global steel capacity and negotiations to
    eliminate market-distorting subsidies that led to the current glut of
    capacity. I also called upon the United States International Trade
    Commission (ITC) to investigate the impact of imports on the U.S. steel
    industry under section 201 of the 1974 Trade Act. The ITC subsequently
    found that increased steel imports are a substantial cause of serious
    injury to our domestic industry.
        Today I am announcing my decision to impose temporary safeguards to
    help give America's steel industry and its workers the chance to adapt
    to the large influx of foreign steel. This relief will help
    steelworkers, communities that depend on steel, and the steel industry
    adjust without harming our economy.
        These safeguards are expressly sanctioned by the rules of the World
    Trade Organization, which recognizes that sometimes imports can cause
    such serious harm to domestic industries that temporary restraints are
    warranted. This is one of those times.
        I take this action to give our domestic steel industry an
    opportunity to adjust to surges in foreign imports, recognizing the harm
    from 50 years of foreign government intervention in the global steel
    market, which has resulted in bankruptcies, serious dislocation, and job
    loss. We also must continue to urge our trading partners to eliminate
    global inefficient excess capacity and market-distorting practices, such
    as subsidies.
        The U.S. steel industry must use the temporary help today's action
    provides to restructure and ensure its long-term competitiveness.
    Restructuring will impact workers and the communities in which they
    live, and we must help hard-working Americans adapt to changing economic
    circumstances. I have proposed a major expansion of the National
    Emergency Grants program to assist workers affected by restructuring
    with effective job training and assistance. I have also proposed direct
    assistance with health insurance costs that will be available to workers
    and retirees who lose their employer-provided coverage. And I support
    coordinated assistance for communities and a strengthened and expanded
    Trade Adjustment Assistance program. America's workers are the most
    highly skilled in the world, and with effective training and adjustment
    assistance we will help them find better, higher paying jobs to support
    their families and boost our economy.

    Note: The proclamation and memorandum of March 5 regarding imports of
    certain steel products are listed in Appendix D at the end of this
    volume.

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