FIGHT BREAKS OUT OVER STEEL TARIFFS: Potential tariffs on tinplate steel have sparked a food fight in Congress, with lawmakers split over whether the tariffs will raise food prices or benefit American workers. Background: The U.S. International Trade Commission and Commerce Department are weighing whether to impose antidumping duties on tinplate steel from Canada, China, Germany, Netherlands, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, and the U.K. that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value and subsidized by the government of China. ITC in March voted to continue an investigation, finding “reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured” by the imports. The case was brought by steel company Cleveland-Cliffs, which produces tinplate steel at its West Virginia facility, and the United Steelworkers union. Tinplate steel is often used in canned foods. Congressional food fight: Lawmakers have sparred over whether the tariffs should be imposed. A bipartisan group of House members led by Reps. David Rouzer (R-N.C.) and Susan Wild (D-Pa.) last month wrote to the administration urging against the tariffs. The group argued the tariffs would further inflate already high food prices. “If imposed, tariffs would lead to additional costs on domestic manufacturers and customers at a time of already high inflation and grocery prices,” the group wrote. “Canned good cost increases would particularly impact vulnerable populations, food banks, and consumers who rely on government nutrition and feeding assistance programs like SNAP and WIC.” But the tariffs also have powerful supporters, including Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Brown, along with a number of Senate colleagues like Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), wrote a letter earlier this year urging the ITC to impose the tariffs to protect U.S. workers. “It is our understanding that the future of the [Cleveland-Cliffs] facility rests on the outcome of this trade case,” the Senators wrote.
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