'Lorain Needs Relief Now,' Ohio Politician Tells Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross has submitted the findings of an investigation into steel mill product imports and how the impact national security. President Donald Trump has 90 days to respond to the report. One Lorain-area official is hoping the president will take swift action to get relief to Northeast Ohioans.

“After delays and a missed deadline by this administration, I call on the President and his team to brief Congress on the report’s findings and to provide an expedited plan of action to ensure that the U.S. takes an appropriate response to the well-documented manipulation of the global steel market by countries like China and Russia,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.

The investigation into steel dumping was supposed to be finished in June 2017. Kaptur has lodged several complaints with Ross for how long the investigation took to complete. She even sent a letter in August asking to know the status of Ross' efforts.

"Yet, we are now nearly six weeks after a deadline you set yourself, for which thousands of steelworkers across the country who heard your promise for speedy action continue to wait. It is they who truly deserve an immediate response and plan for action from this Administration," she wrote.

Kaptur and State Representative Dan Ramos have also invited Ross to Lorain to see, first-hand, the effects foreign steel dumping can have on a domestic steel town.

For his part, Ross has taken some action to protect U.S. steel markets. On Jan. 10, he found evidence of carbon and alloy steel wire dumping by South African and Ukrainian exporters. In 2016, imports of carbon and alloy steel wire rod from South Africa and Ukraine were valued at an estimated $7.1 million and $55 million, respectively, the Commerce Department said.

“Today’s decision allows U.S. producers of carbon and alloy steel wire rod to receive relief from the market-distorting effects of foreign producers dumping their goods into the domestic market,” said Ross in a statement at the time. “While the United States values its relationship with South Africa and Ukraine even our closest friends must play by the rules.”

AP Photo/Tony Dejak