Mitch McConnell : Senator McConnell Applauds Decision By US Trade Representative to Help Protect Kentucky Workers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) today praised the decision by the United States Trade Representative to request World Trade Organization consultations with China regarding aluminum subsidies. Late last year, Senator McConnell spoke directly with the U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Michael Froman, on behalf of aluminum industry workers in Kentucky who contacted him for help.

'Though late in coming, I applaud the U.S. Trade Representative's decision to challenge unfair aluminum subsidies at the WTO. This will be welcome news for the many aluminum industry workers in Kentucky who play a vital economic role in the Commonwealth,' Senator McConnell said. 'After hearing from concerned workers, including those with Kentucky-employer Century Aluminum, I reached out to the U.S. Trade Representative and the Chair of the U.S. International Trade Commission to express my concerns over the negative impact of subsidized Chinese aluminum imports in the U.S. on Kentucky workers. I am pleased that Ambassador Froman took my conversation with him seriously. The action taken today is a step forward in working to provide a level playing field for Kentucky aluminum workers to compete fairly. When that happens, I am confident Kentucky industries and workers will prevail.'

Century Aluminum CEO Michael A. Bless said, 'Century and its workers are happy to see this case move forward. We are thankful for Senator McConnell's leadership and work on behalf of Kentucky's aluminum industry.'

Cardinal Aluminum Company President and CEO William (Chip) Edwards III said, 'Addressing China's unfair trade practices and the adverse effects they are having on the aluminum industry in Kentucky is vital to the continued health of our industry and community. As an aluminum extruder in Kentucky, I would like to thank Leader McConnell for his leadership on this issue.'

According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, Kentucky is home to 20,000 aluminum industry-related jobs. Kentucky also has two of the five remaining aluminum smelters in the U.S., in Sebree and Hawesville, which have unfortunately suffered hundreds of layoffs over the past several years.

On behalf of Kentucky's aluminum workers, Senator McConnell has done the following:

• Sent a letter to the International Trade Commission in September 2015 about potential 'dumping' of aluminum in the U.S. Senator McConnell's letter can be read HERE.
• Sent a letter to Ambassador Michael Froman in November 2015 asking him to raise the issue at the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade. Senator McConnell's letter can be read HERE.
• Called Ambassador Froman directly in September 2016 to express support for USTR to bring an aluminum antidumping case against China at the World Trade Organization.
• Personally raised the importance of the issue in a recent meeting with President-elect Trump's intended nominee to be the next USTR, Robert Lighthizer.