The USW president expresses concern over the impact of unfair trade on the U.S. aluminium industry

The president of United Steelworkers Local 420-A, Robert Smith recently testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission and expressed his concern over the impact of unfair trade on the aluminium industry in the United States.

The hearing in Washington, D.C., was part of the ITC’s investigation into the allegations that unfair trade practices by China is destroying the domestic aluminium industry.  Mr. Smith presented before the congressional committee members how workers and their communities are getting impacted by fake and cheap exports and the resulting closure of aluminium plants in the US.

“We’re opposed to a country like China, who just at the turn of the century made 10 per cent of the world’s aluminium. Now they make 54 per cent of the world’s aluminium,” he said.

He pointed out how the number of aluminium smelters in the U.S. has dropped from 24 to five in last few years and insisted that they want removal of shady trade practices that are hurting the interest of the domestic industries and pleaded for fair trade practices.

 “We’re not opposed to free trade, but we need fair trade. What the Chinese government does, they basically subsidize their companies. In our opinion, they break the world trade rules. They dump their product on the world market, and that causes prices to collapse. We’re doing what we can — that is, trying to persuade our government to take action,” Mr Smith added.

He urged the government to impose tariffs on aluminium coming from China.

“The problem is, sometimes they ship it somewhere like Vietnam and Mexico and it works its way here,” he said.

He expressed concern that issue needs consideration even from a national defence perspective.

According to Mr. Smith, the testimony was meant to gather facts and “have a thorough investigation of the whole mess,” said.

“Before the government’s going to take action, they obviously need to have an investigation. By July of 2017 they’re supposed to have their investigation done and hopefully make a recommendation for action,” he said.

Massena’s smelter was about to close in 2015, however, Alcoa had an agreement with U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to keep the plant running for the next 3½ years to save 600 full-time-equivalent jobs.  Mr. Smith said they were just trying to prevent further closure of smelters and save the industry and the community.

“The bottom line is, we’re willing to take a swing at anything. We’re not going to take it lying down,” he said.

The results of the investigation will be delivered to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee soon.

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