CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) expressed her deep concern and devastation over the closure of Cleveland-Cliffs’ Weirton operation in West Virginia. The closure will result in the loss of almost 900 jobs in the area. Capito had previously fought to sustain operations in Weirton after learning about the concerns of Cleveland Cliffs and the United Steelworkers regarding unfair trade practices.
Capito highlighted the U.S. Department of Commerce’s final decision in January, which recognized the damage caused by unfair trade practices on America’s domestic tin mill production and its workers. However, the International Trade Commission’s (ITC) recent decision to reverse Commerce’s final duties on tin mill products is concerning. Capito stated that the decision will be thoroughly examined.
“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.
The closure of the Weirton operation comes after the ITC’s negative determinations in its final phase antidumping and countervailing duty investigations for Canada, China, and Germany. Additionally, the antidumping duty investigation for South Korea was terminated.
The Department of Commerce had previously determined that Canada, Germany, South Korea, and China were engaged in unfair trade practices by dumping tin mill products in the United States. Preliminary duties were placed on tin mill imports from these countries. However, for a trade remedy order and final duties to go into effect, both Commerce and the ITC needed to come to affirmative final determinations.
Senator Capito had been actively involved in supporting the Weirton plant. She participated in the ITC’s hearing on tin mill products and also led a bipartisan and bicameral letter expressing support for the antidumping and countervailing duty petitions filed by Cleveland-Cliffs and the United Steelworkers.
The closure of Cleveland-Cliffs’ Weirton operation is a significant blow to the Weirton community and the hardworking men and women who will be affected. The consequences of the ITC’s decision on the tin mill industry and its workers are now being felt in West Virginia.
