Mrvan Introduces the Stop Mexico’s Steel Surge Act
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Frank J. Mrvan introduced the Stop Mexico’s Steel Surge Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The purpose of this legislation is to protect American workers and the domestic steel industry by reinstating certain tariffs on steel imports from Mexico and bring Mexico into compliance with the requirements of the 2019 Joint Agreement on Steel and Aluminum.
Specifically, this Stop Mexico’s Steel Surge Act would reinstate the Section 232 tariffs on steel imports from Mexico at 25 percent for no less than a year. The measure would specify that the administration may lift these tariffs once the Secretary of Commerce and U.S. Trade Representative certify that Mexico has adopted policies bringing it into compliance with the 2019 Agreement. This legislation also would allow the administration to impose certain quotas or tariff rate quotas on specific goods that have experienced major surges.
Congressman Mrvan stated, “As Vice Chairman of the Congressional Steel Caucus, I know that it is imperative that we do everything we can to defend American steelworkers against unfair trade practices. I am proud to collaborate in a bipartisan manner with my House and Senate colleagues on this initiative to ensure that our domestic steel industry will compete on a level playing field.”
Rep. Crawford stated, “Mexico’s practice of steel dumping is a flagrant breach of our trade agreement and has caused significant harm to our steel industry. We cannot allow bad actors to take advantage of trade agreements by attacking one specific American industry. It’s time to put our foot down and put tariffs in place to prevent Mexico from flooding our markets and causing further damage to American steel manufacturers.”
The House legislation is cosponsored by Representatives James R. Baird (R-IN-04), Troy Balderson (R-OH-12), Jim Banks (R-IN-03), Mike Bost (R-IL-12), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Rick Crawford (R-AR-01), Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), and Terri A. Sewell (D-AL-07), and Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) have introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
The Stop Mexico’s Steel Surge Act is endorsed by the American Iron and Steel Institute, Coalition for a Prosperous America, Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports, Steel Manufacturers Association, and the United Steelworkers.
Previously, on May 10, 2023, Congressional Steel Caucus leaders Rep. Mrvan and Rep. Crawford sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai requesting they take action to address the surge of Mexican steel imports, and on December 18, 2023, they sent a letter on this matter to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
The text of the Stop Mexico's Steel Surge Act is available here.
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