WASHINGTON -- Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin today praised the International Trade Commission's (ITC) decision to continue the existing anti-dumping and countervailing duties on foreign imports of corrosion resistant sheet and plate products. The Congressman was disappointed that the ITC did not continue to provide relief for U.S. producers of cold-rolled sheet products.

"In continuing to provide relief to U.S. producers of corrosion resistant sheet and plate products, it's clear that the ITC wants to take an aggressive stance against unfair foreign steel imports that are seriously harming U.S. steel producers," said Rep Cardin, who testified in September before the ITC on the need to continue sanctions against foreign steel manufacturers.

The U.S. Department of Commerce recently released a study documenting unfair trading practices of Korea, Brazil, Russia and Japan. It pointed to the vast overcapacity of steel by these nations as a result of government subsidies of foreign steel industries. These market distortions, according to the study, have been responsible for frequent bouts of large-scale illegal dumping in the Unites States.

The majority of steel -- 52 % -- produced at Bethlehem Steel in Sparrows Point, MD, is corrosion resistant sheet and plate products, which will be favorably impacted by the ITC decision.

"While the ITC decision means that the majority of steel produced by Bethlehem Steel will experience relief from unfair foreign trading practices, I am concerned that Bethlehem Steel, which has invested more than $300 million in a new cold-rolled sheet production facility in an effort to improve yield, quality and delivery time, will still be vulnerable to unfair trading practices.

In 1999, Rep. Cardin introduced the Fair Trade Law Enhancement Act, HR 1505, which would strengthen antidumping and countervailing duty laws to help U.S. industries deal with unfair trading practices. He also has introduced the WTO Dispute Settlement Review Commission Act, HR 4706, to ensure that the WTO does not become a de facto court of review for U.S. application of its trade laws.