March 01,2018

Press Contact:

Keith Chu (Wyden), 202.224-4515

Wyden Statement on Trump Announcement of Steel and Aluminum Tariffs

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement after President Trump announced plans to levy tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum.

“The American steel industry has been under pressure for decades from unfairly traded products from China and elsewhere, as well as global overcapacity. I am pleased that the President recognizes the importance of addressing these challenges and finally intends to take action,” Wyden said. “Until the details are known, however, it is too soon to tell whether the measures announced today will end China’s overcapacity and bring back good paying American jobs or simply provide a short-term boost to corporate profits.”

Senator Wyden has fought for years for tough trade enforcement for U.S. companies facing unfair trade and has called on the Administration to address longstanding challenges facing steelworkers, including as a champion of ENFORCE Act protections to stop foreign companies from circumventing U.S. trade laws.  He has also demanded transparency in enforcement actions, including in the Section 232 investigations, and successfully pushed for public release of the Administration’s analysis in the steel and aluminum cases.

 

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