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American Steel Makers Sound Off Against Dumping

John Wilkinson, Plant Manager at U.S. Steel's Lorain, Ohio plant (pic: Brian Bull)
John Wilkinson, Plant Manager at U.S. Steel's Lorain, Ohio plant (pic: Brian Bull)

Among those scheduled to testify is the CEO of U.S. Steel, which recently idled two plants in Texas and Pennsylvania.

The company blames “dumping” -- the influx of foreign-made steel listed at below-market prices -- for cutting into the productivity and profits of domestic steel makers.

U.S. Steel has also filed suit against South Korea, which it calls one of the worst offenders among its foreign rivals.

John Wilkinson is plant manager at U.S. Steel’s Lorain plant. He says there’s only one “appropriate” outcome for the suit.

“And that is, put these trade cases against South Korea," says Wilkinson. "We give U.S. Steel and all the other steel companies a fighting chance in a domestic U.S, We get back to supporting ourselves internally. We’re not asking for a handout. What we’re looking for is just a fair playing field to compete against.”

The Economic Policy Institute says collectively, U.S. steel industries lost $400 million in 2012, and $1.2 billion in 2013, with greater losses to come unless something is done.

American steel makers want stricter enforcement of international trade laws that they say will help them stay competitive, especially during the ongoing shale boom happening across the U.S., including the Utica and Marcellus shale regions that run through Ohio.

The U.S. Commerce Department is expected to issue a ruling by mid-July.