SR0673 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0673 LRB096 21341 GRL 37430 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Spartan Light Metal Products has been an industry leader in magnesium custom die castings for the past 4 decades; the company has been owned and operated as a family business since 1961 and employs over 600 people; and

WHEREAS, Spartan Light Metal Products provides die cast products from magnesium alloys that reduce weight and improve performance of products at competitive costs; and

WHEREAS, Magnesium die casting, such as Spartan Light Metal Products, are being greatly harmed by the tariffs (731-TA-1071 and 731-TA-1072) that have been placed on imported magnesium alloys by the United States International Trade Commission; these tariffs allow the nation's lone magnesium producer to set whatever price it chooses for raw magnesium, driving many die cast companies out of business; and

WHEREAS, The tariffs have created an advantage for foreign competitors, who can purchase magnesium at globally-competitive prices and export finished products to U.S. markets free of penalties; this practice replaces U.S. manufacturing jobs and could lead to bankruptcy for the industry; and

WHEREAS, The tariffs have also placed U.S. car manufacturers at a cost and weight disadvantage against foreign carmakers in meeting Corporate Average Fuel Economy requirements; as a result, about 60% of Spartan Light Metal Products' magnesium business for 2011 is disappearing at a time when the demand for magnesium products is growing; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the U.S. President and Congress to find a creative solution to protect the nation's lone magnesium producer without destroying the U.S. magnesium die casting industry; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we further urge the U.S. President and Congress to lift U.S. tariffs 731-TA-1071 and 731-TA-1072 on die cast magnesium alloys from China and Russia or to create a fair market by placing a similar tariff on imported assemblies and products made from die cast magnesium alloys; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the President of the United States and the members of the Illinois congressional delegation.