Tin tariffs: Steelworkers and politicians unite in pivotal battle for fair trade

United Steelworkers, Cleveland Cliffs and politicians appeared before the U.S. International Trade Commission on Thursday to testify on tin tariffs.

On Friday morning, some of those officials say they are feeling positive about the pending result. A negative outcome could be devastating.

USW 2911 President Mark Gylptis was among those who spoke, he says they were well prepared, prepping for months with lawyers.

"At this point, I'm feeling positive,” he said.

He appeared alongside Cleveland Cliffs Chairman, President and CEO Lorenzo Goncalves. Both have been vocal about tin tariffs and foreign countries dumping their product.

Adding it’s the worst dumping he's ever seen, making it impossible for Weirton to compete with some of these foreign prices.

"If we could get a fair price to compete with, then we should be able to get our laid off employees back to work and our company should actually thrive,” Gylptis said. “But we have to have a fair set of circumstances. And that's part of the job of the ITC, to make sure that happens."

Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore-Capito of West Virginia, as well as Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown and Ohio Congressman Bill Johnson spoke in favor of the tariffs.

Capito pointed out that losing tin could be detrimental to not just Cleveland Cliffs.

"If we lose that product, we lose the whole facility, and the long and proud history of steel production at Weirton will come to an end,” she said. “That would not only devastate our region but to the family of every steelworker who puts food on the table, it would be a crushing blow."

Glyptis says they've been on an emotional roller coaster the past few weeks battling this case, and especially, as U.S. Steel has been acquired by Japanese-owned Nippon.

"I talked to the president about trying to stop the transaction from occurring,” he said. “I personally don't feel comfortable with the Japanese having our back. I don't feel comfortable with that, and I don't think the nation should feel comfortable."

But if this outcome with tin tariff is a negative one, it could impact Weirton, a town forged on steel, forever.

"It's a pivotal day for Weirton, it’s a very pivotal period in that we absolutely have to come out with a fair set of circumstances under which to compete, with this hearing," Glyptis said.