Portman Urges Commerce Department To Support Elyria, Ohio Company Penalized By Unfair Chinese Trade Practices
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), former US Trade Representative, urged the Department of Commerce to rule that American diamond saw blade manufacturers, such as Elyria’s Diamond Products, continue to provide relief from unfair Chinese dumping. Diamond Products manufactures diamond saw blades and employs 300 Ohio workers.
“Increased exports mean increased jobs for Ohio, but we need to make sure Ohio companies and Ohio workers are treated fairly in a global economy,” said Portman, who initiated the first-ever legal case to be litigated and won against China before the World Trade Organization because of China's unfair treatment of U.S.-made auto parts. “I hope, as the Department of Commerce reviews the case, that they continue to fairly apply the law to ensure Diamond is not subjected to an uneven playing field caused by Chinese dumping.”
In 2009, the Department of Commerce put a dumping order in place to protect workers at Diamond from unfair Chinese competition. They had found that certain Chinese manufacturers should pay a tariff rate of 164% on products they export to the US to level the playing field following the unfair trade activity. Senator Portman’s letter asks that the same level of protection from unfair Chinese competition be extended during an ongoing changed circumstances review being conducted by the Department.
Today’s letter and the effort to ensure fair competition for workers at Diamond Products follows the successful effort undertaken by Senator Portman and others to ensure Ohio’s petroleum candle industry was not subjected to similar Chinese dumping practices, which would have impacted more than 1500 Ohio workers in Muskingum, Highland and Butler Counties.
Senator Portman has also successfully fought on behalf of 400 Ohio workers manufacturing lightweight thermal paper in West Carrollton, and for thousands of employees across Ohio, including those at U.S. Steel in Lorain, OH, who produce hot rolled steel.
The letter is included below.
September 1, 2011
Hon. Francisco J. Sanchez
Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade
U.S. Department of Commerce
Washington, DC
Dear Under Secretary Sanchez:
On June 30, 2011, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a preliminary determination in a changed circumstances review of an antidumping order for imports of diamond saw blades, particularly from China. I am interested in this issue due to its impact on Ohio diamond saw blade manufacturers, including 300 Ohio workers at Diamond Products in Elyria, Ohio.
The Department's preliminary ruling concerned the appropriate dumping margin rate for a certain Chinese respondent. (Diamond Saw blades and Parts Thereof From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Results and Preliminary Intent To Terminate, in Part, Antidumping Duty Changed Circumstances Review and Extension of Time Limit for Final Results, 76 Fed Reg. 38357 (June 30, 2011)). I understand that the Department will issue a final ruling shortly.
I believe the Department’s preliminary determination appropriately protects Ohio saw blade producers from unfair competition and the Department’s final determination in this case should require the respondents to pay antidumping duty deposits as required by law.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, which has an impact on jobs in Ohio and across our country.
Sincerely,
Rob Portman
cc: Ronald K. Lorentzen, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration