Click here to print PDF file
Bethlehem Steel Corporation
For Immediate Release
BETHLEHEM, Pa., December 28, 2000 - The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today, by a unanimous 6-0 vote, in the affirmative that there was a reasonable indication of injury or threat of injury of hot rolled steel products from Argentina, India, Indonesia, South Africa, Thailand, China, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Romania, Taiwan, and Ukraine. The ITC's vote reaffirms that unfairly traded steel imports continue to injure the domestic steel industry, and will allow the U.S. Department of Commerce to calculate and impose preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty margins.
"We are pleased but not surprised that all six members of the International Trade Commission voted affirmatively in a preliminary determination on the question of injury to the domestic steel industry caused by dumped hot rolled sheets from these countries" said Duane R. Dunham, Bethlehem Steel's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "The massive dumping of steel in this country has become an all too common occurrence and has crippled this industry. Today's vote will help remedy part of the damage that domestic steel producers have suffered from illegally traded foreign steel. While this is a positive development that could help stabilize the hot rolled steel marketplace, serious injury to the American steel industry continues, requiring prompt and effective action by our federal government.
The ITC's affirmative preliminary finding of injury, or threat of material injury, to domestic steel companies and workers underscores the need for vigorous enforcement of the U.S. trade laws. The flood of dumped and heavily subsidized steel still remains at near-record high levels and is causing economic damage to steel communities, severe marketplace disruption, depressed prices, production cutbacks, and the loss of jobs. It also has been a major factor in forcing several domestic steelmakers into bankruptcy. The ongoing steel trade crisis also provides compelling evidence of the continuing need for legislation to update and enhance U.S. trade laws."
