Metal manufacturers support amendment to Section 232

Paul Nathanson, spokesperson for the Coalition of American Metal Manufacturers and Users (CAMMU), has issued the following statement in support of the introduction of the Bicameral Trade Authority Act of 2019, legislation that would amend Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act:

“CAMMU strongly supports the Bicameral Trade Authority Act of 2019, as it would help ensure that tariffs are only imposed under Section 232 for truly national security purposes. Importantly, the legislation could potentially revoke the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs that continue to cause damage to millions of workers in the U.S. manufacturing sector.

“U.S. companies continue to be hurt by the Section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs, paying hundreds of dollars more per ton for steel than their overseas competitors. This has resulted in lost business opportunities. In addition, the domestic steel industry cannot produce enough steel to meet demand, meaning that U.S. steel-users are seeing longer and longer delivery times from their steel U.S. suppliers, contributing to uncertainty and lost business.

“CAMMU thanks Senators Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Mark Warner (D-VA), and Representatives Ron Kind (D-WI), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Darin LaHood (D-IL), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) for their leadership in introducing the Bicameral Trade Authority Act.”

A one-page summary of the bill can be accessed here, and a PDF of the legislation is available here.