AISI’s 2016 Public Policy Agenda highlights the importance of steel industry

SPOKANE (Scrap Monster): The 2016 Public Policy Agenda released by the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) highlights the importance of steel industry to the US economy and to the nation’s security. The Policy Agenda was approved by AISI Board of Directors during its meeting in Washington, D.C.

The Policy Agenda extends steel industry’s support to the national pro-manufacturing agenda. It calls for tough actions to keep the US manufacturing globally competitive and protects thousands of manufacturing jobs in the country. Thomas J. Gibson, president and CEO of AISI noted that the domestic steel industry witnessed significant decline during the past two years, mainly on account of rise in imports of subsidized and cheap steel products import. Imports accounted for 28% and 29% of total steel market share in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

The 2016 Public Policy Agenda calls for more aggressive efforts by government authorities to combat current steel crisis. Effective enforcement action to curb trade distorting practices is necessary to combat dumping of cheaper products into US market. It also calls for prohibition of retroactive tax increase and elimination of the corporate alternative minimum tax.

AISI also demanded greater transparency and industry access to the regulatory development process at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies. In addition, necessary studies must be conducted on the impact of the proposed environmental regulations on industrial competitiveness. Another priority in the public policy is the call to ensure long-term and sustainable funding for highways. It also endorses the cooperative government-industry approaches to promote worker health and safety and support workforce educational programs.