Mrvan, steel caucus, urging increase in trade enforcement funding

The United States is now imposing tariffs of 50% on most foreign-made steel as well as reviewing additional targeted duties.

Steelmakers and the United Steelworkers union continue to pursue trade cases to ensure that foreign steelmakers are not circumventing existing tariffs by routing the steel through other countries, or violating international trade laws, such as dumping steel at less than market value.

U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, and other members of the Congressional Steel Caucus are focusing on funding for the International Trade Commission during the current budget cycle. The caucus is planning on having its annual Steel Caucus hearing with industry and union leaders soon.

"There's always new trade cases. What I'm consistently working on, especially during this budget cycle, is making sure the International Trade Commission has the funding so they can enforce the trade cases," Mrvan said. "Foreign adversaries continue to circumvent our trade policies to be able to bring in steel from China and a few other countries."

The International Trade Commission handles trade complaints, enforcing targeted tariffs designed to counteract international trade law violations. It has quasi-judicial hearings in which both sides in a dispute present evidence before making a decision.

The enforcement mechanism is one part of the measures the government takes to protect domestic steelmakers.

"It's two-fold," Mrvan said. "You have the Section 232 tariffs to protect the industry to manufacture more steel and increase capacity and create jobs. Then you have to be able to protect our market with the enforcement side. You have to make sure they have the funding necessary. With the current administration cutting funding everywhere, we have to make sure the International Trade Commission sustains itself."

The International Trade Commission had a $122 million budget last year, and the proposed budget is $134 million, but that's not enough to keep up with the increase in workload, Mrvan said.

"They've doubled the amount of cases they do and they're reducing the amount of funding they have," he said. "We're advocating that department has the proper funding to be able to do the enforcement."

It's challenging to stay on top of all the efforts to circumvent American trade laws.

"They're always figuring out new ways to get product from China into our country. The ITC has to chase that," Mrvan said. "We have to ensure we're protecting our industry. These tariffs are so vitally important to protect the steel industry and all these working men and women in our area."