Contact: Jess Kamm Broomell, 412-562-2444, jkamm@usw.org
(Pittsburgh) – United Steelworkers (USW) International President Tom Conway released the following statement today in response to reports that the World Trade Organization (WTO) believes that actions the United States took in 2018 under Section 232 of U.S. trade law violate its rules:
“Over many years, the WTO sought to restrain the use of U.S. trade law and impose obligations we never negotiated. Now, once again, the WTO overstepped its mandate and authorities.
“The United States was right to ensure that we could meet our national security and critical infrastructure needs in steel and aluminum with domestic production. But instead, the WTO is trying to tell America how we can protect ourselves.
“U.S. actions have been effective. Section 232 relief helped to promote production, investment and job creation, while keeping America safe.
“The United States can’t trade away our national security. We must maintain these relief measures and refuse to bow to the misguided efforts of the WTO lawyers.”
The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech and service occupations.