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For Immediate Release WEIRTON, W.VA. – Weirton Steel Corp. and the Independent Steelworkers Union (ISU) today announced they have joined other companies and organizations to warn the U.S. Congress not to be misled by a campaign aimed at disrupting the steel tariff program. A letter – supported by 39 steel and steel-related companies and five organizations and unions – soon will be sent to members of Congress to point out the inaccuracies of a recent study conducted by the Consuming Industries Trade Action Coalition (CITAC). CITAC, which represents companies that use steel to make their products, is attempting to weaken or stop the tariffs imposed in March 2002 by President Bush. "Many steel consuming companies got used to the low-priced steel imports and apparently don't care that much of them were sold in violation of federal trade law. CITAC attempts to circumvent facts by using smoke and mirrors," said John Walker, Weirton Steel president and chief executive officer. "Our concern is that their repeated claims could leave Congress and the general public with the impression that the tariff program doesn’t work. That’s why we’re fighting back." Earlier this week, the publication, Financial Times, concluded that CITAC’s study "hit a new low" in misusing statistics. For example, CITAC alleged that 200,000 jobs were lost among steel-consuming companies because of the tariff program. "The study failed to show last year’s job losses actually happened that January, two months before the tariff program began and at a time when steel prices were near their lowest level ever. But for all of 2002, jobs grew by nearly 228,000 even with the tariffs pushing steel prices higher," noted Mark Glyptis, ISU president. "The battle never ends. We’ve fought against those trying to stop the president from imposing tariffs and now we’re fighting to stop those who want them to end. The people of this country must decide if we are to have a steel industry in this country. But rest assured, if we allow the American steel industry to be eliminated by the falsehoods being perpetrated by our opponents, more American-bred industries will follow." A portion of the letter going to be sent to Congress states, "This is not the first time CITAC, which does not disclose its full membership, has been caught issuing deceptive information. CITAC’s studies have been flawed from the beginning. CITAC’s long-term goal is to weaken the trade laws passed by Congress. CITAC’s ultimate aim is to provide increased access in the U.S. to dumped, subsidized and illegally traded imports. CITAC knows, however, that the Congress supports effective trade laws. Thus, it is forced to use misinformation about the president’s steel tariff program." Weirton Steel is the seventh largest U.S. integrated steel producer. The ISU represents 3,200 employees at the steel company.
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