Decision cracks down on illegally traded foreign wind towers
Washington, D.C - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Commerce announced in a preliminary decision that it would place "anti-dumping" tariffs on utility scale wind towers made in China and Vietnam and sold in the United States. Earlier this month, Loebsack urged the Department of Commerce to take this action, which would put wind towers manufactured in the United States on equal footing as illegally subsidized towers produced by Chinese and Vietnamese companies that push Iowa and American-made towers out of the US market.
"Iowa`s wind tower industry creates good jobs and boosts economic development in our towns and rural communities. Iowa workers are second to none and have shown time and again that they can outcompete the global competition. However, they must be able to compete on a level playing field. I pushed for this action because illegally subsided foreign wind towers cannot be allowed to hurt Iowa jobs and undercut American companies by pushing homemade products out of our own market. I am pleased the Department of Commerce took these steps to ensure the hardworking men and women making these towers here in Iowa can compete on equal footing."
Earlier this year, Loebsack was an original cosponsor of bipartisan legislation that was signed into law, which ensured that all tools are available to stop illegally subsidized foreign products from pushing American-made products out of our own market, including countervailing duties and anti-dumping duties, such as those imposed by Friday`s Department of Commerce action.
Earlier this summer, Loebsack urged the Department of Commerce to support the petition filed by the Wind Tower Trade Coalition, which includes Trinity Structural Towers, with the Department of Commerce and the US International Trade Commission regarding illegal trade activities by Chinese and Vietnamese utility scale wind tower manufacturers. In response, on Friday, the Department of Commerce announced a preliminary decision to place anti-dumping duties from 20.85 percent to 72.69 percent on Chinese-made utility-scale wind towers and 52.67 percent and 59.91 percent on Vietnamese-made utility scale wind towers. A final decision is expected later this year.
###
