AISI Urges Govt. to Address Steel Issues

AISI: WASHINGTON, D.C. – American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) President and CEO Thomas J. Gibson today urged President Obama to “fight for manufacturing and for steel” during the U.S. visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping this week. Gibson said his group wholeheartedly supports the positions outlined in letters sent this week to the Administration by nearly 70 members of the Congressional Steel Caucus, led by Reps. Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Pete Visclosky (D-IN); and by leading senators from key steel states, Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Richard Burr (R-NC). 

Gibson echoed the concerns of the members of Congress, saying, “China currently produces as much steel as the rest of the world combined. A significant amount of this Chinese steel is exported to the U.S. and other world markets which has contributed to a devastating import surge that has caused steel plants to be idled and workers to lose jobs. We know that China doesn’t play by the same rules as we do. China manipulates its currency to gain unfair advantage in the U.S. and other export markets,and most of China’s steel industry is state owned and subsidized which has led to massive global overcapacity. The Administration cannot let the opportunity to discuss these critical issues during President Xi’s visit pass us by.”