U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission urging it to ensure trade laws are enforced on the dumping and subsidizing of seamless steel pipe that is hurting Vallourec Star’s Youngstown facility.

Ryan, D-Howland, said the illegal dumping and subsidizing of seamless pipe from Czechia, Korea, Russia and Ukraine has adversely impacted Vallourec.

“As the nation moves past the pandemic, it is important that imports do not take an even greater share of the U.S. market,” Ryan said in his testimony on Thursday.

He said the other nations improperly “took a large share of the domestic market,” and the U.S. Commerce Department issued preliminary rulings on Dec. 7 and 15, and Feb. 3 to justify that.

“I ask that you give serious consideration in this matter and provide relief to the industry and its employees,” Ryan said.

The company invested more than $1 billion into its Youngstown facility between 2012 and 2020 to build seamless steel pipe for the oil and gas industry.

“We must ensure our trade laws bring effective relief so companies like (Vallourec) can continue to compete and be part of the area’s economic recovery,” Ryan said.

Ryan in 2020 wrote the ITC chairman on behalf of Vallourec’s concerns.

In that letter, Ryan wrote: “We recognize the importance of the domestic industry and its role in the U.S. economy. We also know that it is important that the industry and its workers have the tools to challenge unfair trade and that the appropriate remedy will allow them to regain their footing and compete now and into the future.”

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