A group of legislators and executives from domestic steel companies is supporting the extension of duties on certain imported steel products from Brazil, Russia and Japan.
U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., testified Wednesday at an International Trade Commission hearing that the agency could support American jobs by extending the orders.

The commission voted to conduct a full five-year review of the countervailing duty order on hot-rolled steel from Brazil, anti-dumping duty orders on the steel from Brazil and Japan, and the suspended investigation on hot-rolled steel from Russia. The agency has to determine whether revoking the orders likely would allow the domestic industry to be harmed by the imports.

"As our economy is still in a very fragile state, it is more pertinent than ever to ensure that American steelworkers are able to continue to provide for American needs and that these duties remain in place," Visclosky said in prepared remarks. "Failure to do so only would encourage foreign countries to resume their unfair trading practices that cost American jobs. We cannot allow that to happen."

Visclosky said the hot-rolled steel produced at ArcelorMittal facilities in East Chicago and Burns Harbor and United States Steel Corp.'s Gary Works complex is a critical component of the regional and national economy. The steel supplied is used in the automotive and construction industries and to make appliances, industrial machinery, agricultural equipment, and pipes and tubes for oil and gas transmission.
Visclosky said U.S. steel consumption was down 23.4 percent last year compared to 2004, which was when the countervailing duty and anti-dumping duty orders were last reviewed. Production employment was down 29.1 percent in 2010 compared to 1999, which was the year duties went into effect.

More than 15 lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and U.S. Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., sent a letter to the International Trade Commission on Tuesday also in support of continuing duties on the imported steel.

Attorneys representing firms including Nippon Steel Corp., Kobe Steel Ltd., Ford Motor Co. spoke at the hearing against continuing the orders.

The agency will issue its final determination on the cases around mid-May.