CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) released the following statement on the news that Cleveland-Cliffs will be closing their Weirton, W.Va. operation. The decision to close the facility was made following the news last week of the International Trade Commission’s (ITC) negative determinations in its final phase antidumping and countervailing duty (ADCVD) investigations for Canada, China, and Germany and vote to terminate the antidumping duty investigation for South Korea.
“I am devastated to learn that Cleveland-Cliffs will be closing their Weirton operation, which will result in the elimination of almost 900 jobs in the area. While little consolation to the hardworking men and women facing this incredible loss—and to the Weirton community at large—I fought to sustain operations there since learning of Cleveland Cliffs’ and the United Steelworkers’ concerns with unfair trade practices last year. As I have said before, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s final decision announced in January demonstrated our government’s recognition of the damage these unfair trade practices have had on America’s domestic tin mill production and its workers. The ITC’s decision to reverse Commerce’s final duties on tin mill products remains concerning and will be examined thoroughly. In my testimony to the ITC, I conveyed the deep concern I had about the potential negative impact of their ruling, and I am sorry to see this come to fruition. West Virginians are seeing and feeling the consequences of the decision today,” Senator Capito said.
BACKGROUND:
On January 8, 2024, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) determined that Canada, Germany, South Korea, and China unfairly dumped tin mill product in the United States and found that China countervailed duties of imported tin mill.
On January 4, 2024, Senator Capito participated in the ITC’s hearing on tin mill products to support the Weirton plant. Senator Capito’s remarks are available here.
On August 17, 2023, in its preliminary determinations, Commerce found that producers in Canada, China, and Germany were engaged in unfair trade of tin mill products. The department placed preliminary duties of 122.5% on tin mill imports from a Chinese company that was not cooperating in the investigation, 2.02% on imports from Germany, and 5.29% on those from Canada. Only if both Commerce and the ITC come to affirmative final determinations can a trade remedy order and final duties go into effect.
On February 2, 2023, Senator Capito led a bipartisan and bicameral letter expressing support for the antidumping and countervailing duty petitions filed by Cleveland-Cliffs and the United Steelworkers. Full text of the letter is available here.
On January 18, 2023, Cleveland-Cliffs and USW filed antidumping and countervailing duties (ADCVD) against eight countries citing unfair import practices.
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