AAM urges support of duties bill

WASHINGTON (June 4, 2015) — The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) is urging its supporters to contact their legislators, asking them to co-sponsor a bill that would strengthen protection for domestic manufacturers under countervailing and antidumping duties regulations.

H.R. 2523, the American Trade Enforcement Effectiveness Act, was introduced May 21 and currently has 34 bipartisan co-sponsors. The bill would lessen the burden of proof in demonstrating material injury, among other things.

“Thousands of American workers have faced layoffs this year because there's been a surge in trade cheating and imports from countries like China,” said AAM President Scott Paul in a press release.

“The new bill seeks to make it easier for companies and workers to seek remedy against trade cheating like this — before the layoffs and plant closures begin.”

The AAM has a sample letter on its website for supporters to sign and forward to their members of Congress, urging them to co-sponsor H.R. 2523.

The alliance states on its website that “American workers hurt by unfair trade shouldn't need to be on life support before they can seek help. But that's exactly what's happening today to U.S. manufacturers and workers, who must close factories and face mass layoffs before they can find any relief under our current trade laws.

“The bipartisan American Trade Enforcement Effectiveness Act will help Americans fight back against these unfair trade practices. Tell your Member of Congress to sponsor this vital piece of legislation.”