State News

Sessions Applauds ITC Decision Against China

By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter 

On Wednesday U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R) from Alabama issued a statement supportive of the recent United States International Trade Commission (USITC) vote to impose anti-dumping and countervailing duties against Chinese high-pressure steel cylinders.

Sen. Session said, “I applaud ITC’s decision to counter the unfair and abusive trade practices by Chinese manufacturers of high-pressure steel cylinders,” said Sessions. “This decision upholds fair trade practices and will ensure Huntsville workers compete on a level playing field with their foreign competitors. Foreign governments cannot be allowed to subsidize their companies at the expense of American workers and manufacturers.”

In their written statement the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) announced that the Commission has determined that the U.S. high pressure steel cylinder industry is materially injured by reason of imports of high pressure steel cylinders from China.  According to the Commission the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined that the Chinese cylinders are subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value. All six USITC Commissioners voted for the measures. The US. Commerce Department will impose antidumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of these products from China.

Sen. Sessions cosponsored S. 2153, a bill that allows the United States Government to continue imposing countervailing duty laws against unfair foreign government subsidies in non-market economies like China to protect American businesses. The Sessions supported legislation was accompanied by H.R. 4105, which passed Congress and was signed into law by the President in early March. This law gave the ITC the tools uses to  protect American jobs from unfair trade practices.

Norris Cylinder is the last remaining high-pressure steel cylinder manufacturer in the United States.  They have two facilities: one in Longview, TX and one in Huntsville, AL with more than 100 employees. Norris lost much of its sales during the 2008 recession, and has not fully recovered due to the dumping of Chinese steel products in the American market.

According to the USITC report, “High pressure steel cylinders (HPSCs) are seamless, chromium-alloy steel containers designed specifically for transporting, storing, and dispensing compressed or liquefied gases. These cylinders are permanently impressed, either before or after importation, with the symbol of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (DOT).”  The cylinders are commonly used to hold acetylene, which is often used by welders in torches which cut metal down to the desired size.

To learn more about Norris Cylinder visit their website:

 http://www.norriscylinder.com/