September 26, 2023

Manchin Meets with Steelworkers and Visits Cleveland-cliffs Weirton Steel Mill

Weirton, WV – Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) toured the Cleveland-Cliffs tin mill facility in Weirton. The Senators also spoke with steelworkers and met with Cleveland-Cliffs’ Chairman, President & CEO, Lourenco Goncalves to discuss the impacts of a recent tin mill products trade case involving imports from eight countries.

“Steel has been the backbone of innovation and economic growth in our great nation for generations. However, cheap steel, tinplate, and aluminum from foreign countries who do not play by the same rules or hold our same values, especially when it comes to issues of worker safety and compensation, are flooding the market” said Senator Manchin. “As the steel industry continues to rebound and reinvigorate itself, we must protect it against illegally dumped and subsidized imports to ensure we retain and grow the jobs we have here in Weirton and across the country. When West Virginia competes, West Virginia wins, and I will push for strong trade enforcement and to keep hard-working Americans on the job.” 

“Ohio and West Virginia Steelworkers can compete with anyone – if you have a level playing field,” said Senator Brown. “More than 300 Cleveland-Cliffs workers should be working at this mill, but aren’t right now, because of illegal, dumped foreign steel from China and other countries. Sen. Manchin and I will continue to press the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission to crack down on these illegal, foreign imports in their final ruling. We will not stop fighting for American steelworkers and steel jobs.”

Earlier this year, Senator Manchin led a bipartisan, bicameral letter with Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), JD Vance (R-OH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mike Braun (R-IN) and Representatives Bill Johnson (R-OH), Carol Miller (R-WV), Alex Mooney (R-WV) and Frank Mrvan (D-IN) in support of Cleveland-Cliffs’ antidumping petitions to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

A video and photos from the event can be found here and here.