USW Files Trade Petitions Against Corrosion-Resistant Steel Imports from Nine Countries

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Union Seeks Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties to Protect U.S. Jobs and Industry

PITTSBURGH – The United Steelworkers (USW), in collaboration with domestic steel producers, has filed trade petitions seeking anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of corrosion-resistant, flat-rolled steel (CORE) from nine countries. This move comes in response to a significant surge in imports that the USW argues is harming American workers and the domestic steel industry.

Sharp Increase in CORE Imports Threatens U.S. Jobs

According to USW International President David McCall, imports of CORE steel from these nine countries almost doubled from 690,000 tons in the first half of 2023 to 1.35 million tons in the first half of 2024. The increase, McCall states, is putting pressure on the U.S. steel industry, resulting in job losses and decreased profitability.

“In particular, imports from Vietnam almost quadrupled from 122,000 to 468,000 tons,” McCall said. “Vietnam is ramping up its steel industry and exports at the expense of U.S. workers, and we can’t repeat the mistakes with Vietnam that we’ve made with China in the past.”

In addition to Vietnam, the countries targeted in the petition include Australia, Brazil, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates. The USW’s petition seeks to address the impact of these imports on U.S. market conditions and the viability of domestic steel production.

CORE Steel: Vital to Multiple Industries

Corrosion-resistant steel, commonly referred to as CORE, is a critical value-added flat-rolled steel product widely used across various industries, including automotive, appliance manufacturing, and construction. The U.S. market consumes approximately 22 million tons of CORE products annually. Despite strong demand, U.S. steel producers are operating at just 77 percent capacity utilization this year, reflecting a decline in production efficiency and profitability.

“In a strong economy with strong steel demand, the U.S. industry is only operating at 77 percent capacity utilization this year and has seen sharply reduced profits compared to 2022 and 2023,” McCall noted. “Once again, the U.S. has become the dumping ground for excess steel capacity, and the USW will stand up against any unfair trade that hurts American workers.”

Call for Trade Remedies to Protect U.S. Industry

The petitions filed by the USW and domestic steel producers aim to impose duties that would counteract the effects of what they describe as unfairly traded steel imports. By seeking anti-dumping and countervailing measures, the USW hopes to level the playing field for U.S. steel manufacturers and preserve jobs in the sector.

The USW represents a diverse workforce of 850,000 employees in various industries, including metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply, and energy production. The union also includes workers in health care, public sector, higher education, tech, and service occupations, highlighting its broad commitment to protecting American jobs across the economy.

For further information, contact R.J. Hufnagel at (412) 562-2450 or rhufnagel@usw.org.