HR1163 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1163 LRB098 21545 GRL 60167 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, United States Steel Corporation, which owns and operates the Granite City Works steel facility in Granite City, joins other steel-producing facilities throughout the State of Illinois and the country in supporting the United States Department of Commerce's thorough trade investigations into South Korea's export of oil country tubular goods and requesting full enforcement of United States trade laws preventing steel dumping; and

WHEREAS, Domestic steelmakers like the United States Steel Corporation are losing substantial sales to foreign countries like South Korea, which have "dumped" their oil country tubular goods into the United States market; and

WHEREAS, Hundreds of Illinois jobs are at stake, not only at steel mills, but throughout the supply chain, if this practice of "dumping" and circumventing United States trade law is allowed to continue; and

WHEREAS, Oil country tubular goods are the steel pipe products used in the extraction of oil and natural gas and play a critical role in our efforts to become energy independent; and

WHEREAS, Domestic producers employ thousands of dedicated American workers, who use state-of-the-art technology to ensure that these products meet the highest standards; and

WHEREAS, These jobs are now in jeopardy due to the rapid surge of oil country tubular goods imports at prices below fair value and, in deceptive ways, evading international trade laws; and

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration is expected to present a final decision regarding investigations into South Korean trade practices and potential "dumping" of oil country tubular goods steel materials by July of 2014; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the President of the United States to ensure that the United States Department of Commerce fully and thoroughly investigate all facts surrounding the South Korean companies' trade practices regarding steel products and to take necessary action against any illegal activity in this matter; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be delivered to President Barack Obama.