STEEL COUNCIL BACKS RESOLUTION IN STATEHOUSE CALLING FOR SWIFTER ACTION AND A POSSIBLE ONE-YEAR BAN ON STEEL IMPORTS

COLUMBUS, Ohio (November 17, 1998) –  Backing up a resolution in the Ohio legislature, the Ohio Steel Council is redoubling its demand for swifter enforcement of international trade laws concerning unfairly traded steel imports.

Maintaining that the United States is deficient in enforcing trade law, the resolution passed by the Ohio Senate today calls for a special presidential task force to monitor steel imports.

It also argues for a one-year ban on steel imports from countries found to be in violation of international trade agreements.

The Ohio Steel Council is joining with the sponsor of this resolution, Anthony Latell, D-Girard, in demanding tough, immediate action in Washington, D.C.

Preceding the resolution was a ruling Friday by the International Trade Commission which found that U.S. steelmakers have been harmed economically by unfair steel imports.

Other sponsors of the Ohio bill include Senator Gary Suhadolnik, R-Strongsville, who is a member of the Ohio Steel Council. The bill goes on to the Ohio House Dec. 1.

"As a leading steel producing state, Ohio is obligated to take the lead in pushing for definitive action in Washington. We cannot stand by while our steel industry's economic well-being is destroyed by unfairly traded foreign steel," said Cole Tremain, vice president of industrial relations and public affairs for LTV Steel Co. and a member of the Ohio Steel Council.

"In an attempt to save Ohio jobs, we have asked before - and we are asking again - that the federal government vigorously enforce our nation's trade laws. The steel industry, which is being penalized by unfairly traded steel from many nations, deserves our government's full support," he added.

Imports accounted for 35.3 percent of the steel sold for domestic use in August 1998, up from 23.4 percent in August 1997.

The Ohio Steel Council, appointed in 1991 by Gov. George V. Voinovich, is a public-private partnership designed to strengthen ties among the steel industry, the state of Ohio and its citizens. The Council's member organizations are AK Steel Corp., Armco Inc., CSC Ltd., LTV Steel Co., Washington Steel, North Star Steel Ohio, Republic Engineered Steels Inc., The Timken Company, USS/KOBE Steel Co., WCI Steel, Inc., Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp., the United Steelworkers of America, the Ohio Legislature, Ohio Department of Development, The Ohio State University and Youngstown State University.